Tag: Abdul Carter

Giants’ Abdul Carter on maturity questions: ‘I can take it’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After being benched for the second time in three games, New York Giants rookie defensive end Abdul Carter said he can “take it” when it comes to criticism from his teammates to grow up.

“The guys who say that, those are guys I look up to, guys I respect,” Carter told reporters Tuesday. “So, if they say something like that, I’m going to look at myself first, like ‘Alright, what am I doing? How can I get better?’ and prove to them that I can earn their respect and go out and be who I’m supposed to be.”

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carter missed the first quarter of the 33-15 loss to the Patriots after starting the game on the bench. By the time he was allowed on the field, the Giants were in a 17-0 hole.

He previously missed the opening series of New York’s Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Giants didn’t specify a reason for the decision, but reports said he was late to a meeting — the same reason he was benched on Nov. 16. The first time, the team thought he overslept, but Carter said he was getting treatment that led to his tardiness.

“I just would say this: That was my decision to do that,” interim coach Mike Kafka said after Monday’s loss. “And, again, those are tough decisions to make, but that was my decision and, again, the kid, nothing with him. Everything that we did was my decision and obviously I’m sure he wasn’t happy about it, which I understand, but I thought that was the best thing for the team and it was my decision to move forward with it and that’s where we’re at.”

Carter, 22, didn’t get into specifics about the situation after the game, but he did take responsibility, saying, “I let my team down. First two drives, I was out. They scored 17 points. I take responsibility for that. I have to do better.”

When asked Tuesday by reporters about criticism of him expressed by legendary Giants linebacker Carl Banks, Carter said, “I would say just what I do on the field after I’ve been through all this adversity, all the controversy. How do I respond? Do I shy away from it, or do I accept the challenge and become better and improve, keep improving and be the man I’m supposed to be?”

He also said Tuesday he plans to use the bye week to do “some self-reflection” on ways to improve for the final four games of the season.

“Yeah, it’s very important to finish strong,” Carter said. “That’s just who I am as a man and just, I want to do that for my team and as a team that’s what we should do. No matter our situation, we got to finish and do our job.”

Playing the final three quarters against the Patriots, Carter collected the first full sack of his NFL career. That brought his season tally to 1 1/2 sacks along with 31 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery in 13 games (two starts).

It’s nowhere near the production Carter enjoyed at Penn State, where he had 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss last season.

–Field Level Media

Giants’ 1st-rounder Abdul Carter benched again Monday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the second time in three games, New York Giants rookie defensive end Abdul Carter began Monday night’s tilt at New England on the bench.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carter missed the first quarter of the 33-15 loss to the Patriots. By the time he was allowed on the field, the Giants were in a 17-0 hole.

He previously missed the opening series of New York’s Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Giants didn’t specify a reason for the decision, but reports said he was late to a meeting — the same reason he was benched on Nov. 16. The first time, the team thought he overslept, but Carter said he was getting treatment that led to his tardiness.

“I just would say this: That was my decision to do that,” interim coach Mike Kafka said after Monday’s loss. “And, again, those are tough decisions to make, but that was my decision and, again, the kid, nothing with him. Everything that we did was my decision and obviously I’m sure he wasn’t happy about it, which I understand, but I thought that was the best thing for the team and it was my decision to move forward with it and that’s where we’re at.”

Carter, 22, didn’t get into specifics about the situation after the game, but he did take responsibility.

“S— happens. I’m not going to get into details. S— happens,” Carter said. ” … I let my team down. First two drives, I was out. They scored 17 points. I take responsibility for that. I have to do better.”

Playing the final three quarters against the Patriots, Carter collected the first full sack of his NFL career. That brought his season tally to 1 1/2 sacks along with 31 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery in 13 games (two starts).

It’s nowhere near the production Carter enjoyed at Penn State, where he had 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss last season.

Monday’s loss was the seventh in a row for the Giants (2-11), who have their long-awaited bye this week before playing their final four games.

–Field Level Media

Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter (DL44) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Abdul Carter not working out at Penn State’s pro day

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pass rusher Abdul Carter will not participate in Penn State’s pro day on Friday, his agent confirmed Thursday.

Carter, likely the first defensive player selected in next month’s NFL Draft, still is recovering from an injury.

“He is still finishing up rehab on the shoulder injury he had from the Boise State game,” agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN. “He may still do a workout for teams sometime in mid-April.”

In addition to the shoulder injury sustained in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Dec. 31, tests at the NFL Scouting Combine last month revealed a stress reaction in his right foot. He opted against surgery for the foot injury.

A consensus All-America selection and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, Carter had 68 tackles, including 23.5 for loss to lead the FBS, plus 12 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games.

Carter, a former linebacker who moved this season to defensive end, had 172 career tackles — 41 for loss — along with 23 sacks and five forced fumbles in 42 games for Penn State the past three seasons.

Carter has visited with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, who hold the top two picks, respectively, in the April 24-26 draft. He met with the New York Giants, owners of the No. 3 pick, at the Combine.

–Field Level Media

Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter (DL44) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Potential top overall draft pick Abdul Carter considering foot surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Penn State All-America edge rusher Abdul Carter is mulling whether to have surgery after tests revealed he is dealing with a stress reaction in his right foot, agent Drew Rosenhaus said late Wednesday night.

“There are mixed opinions on whether he needs surgery, and we will figure that out in the near future,” Rosenhaus said of Carter, who is the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.

Rosenhaus said Carter has two options.

He could either have preemptive surgery and have a screw inserted in his right foot, with the result being a return to running in approximately eight weeks.

Or, he could bypass surgery and work out at his pro day at Penn State on March 28.

“Either way, worst-case scenario, we don’t expect this to impact where he is drafted,” Rosenhaus said. “After visiting with teams this week, I believe he’s going to be the No. 1 overall pick.”

The news came out hours after Carter said he felt it was “very realistic” that he would be the top overall pick of the draft.

“I feel like I’m the best player in the country. The best player should be selected No. 1,” he said.

Carter is not working out at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week because he still is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered late last season.

Carter was injured in the Nittany Lions’ 31-14 victory over Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Dec. 31, and he played through the injury when Notre Dame downed Penn State 27-24 in a semifinal game on Jan. 9.

A consensus All-America selection and the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Carter had 68 tackles, including 23.5 for loss to lead the FBS, plus 12 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games.

Carter, a former linebacker who moved this season to defensive end, had 172 career tackles — 41 for loss — along with 23 sacks and five forced fumbles in 42 games for Penn State the past three seasons.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) practices before the Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Penn State DE Abdul Carter praises Titans, wants to be No. 1 pick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter wore an Eagles jersey to the Super Bowl for one final experience as a Philly fan with his dad, knowing his next stop via the NFL draft is unlikely to bring his dream of wearing that uniform to life.

Carter is not working out for NFL teams this week because of a shoulder injury he estimated was “90 percent” healed. But he’s squarely in the conversation as one of the best prospects in the 2025 draft class after posting 12.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss for the Nittany Lions last season.

Carter said he gets his toughness from his Philadelphia roots where he grew up dreaming of working toward being the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

“I feel like it’s very realistic,” Carter said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I feel like I’m the best player in the country. The best player should be selected No. 1.”

Carter said he kicked off interviews with NFL teams on Tuesday night and met with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel — “all about his business” — and the brass of the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 1 pick.

“I’m impressed with them. They’re impressed with me,” Carter said. “They have the No. 1 pick. I want to be the top pick.”

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said Tuesday he would not pass on a generational talent. While Borgonzi said the first draft board of the process is set in Nashville, he wouldn’t say which players earned priority seating.

“Abdul is a very good player,” Borgonzi said. “I don’t want to go into many evaluations of the players, but there are certainly some players at the top that fit that description of generational talent.”

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) reacts with the trophy after the game against the Boise State Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ex-Penn State DE Abdul Carter (shoulder) to skip combine workouts

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Penn State All-America edge rusher Abdul Carter, projected as one of the top selections in this year’s NFL draft, will not work out this week at the NFL Scouting Combine because he is still recovering from a shoulder injury, his agents said Monday.

Carter was injured in the Nittany Lions’ 31-14 victory over Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Dec. 31, and he played through the injury when Notre Dame downed Penn State 27-24 in a semifinal game on Jan. 9.

Carter’s agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, told reporters that Carter would be recovered in time for Penn State’s pro day on March 28. Rosenhaus said he forwarded a letter to NFL teams from Dallas Cowboys team physician Dan Cooper, who examined Carter’s shoulder this month, that said the pass rusher recently was medically cleared to resume training.

Carter, 21, still could participate in interviews with NFL teams at the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where defensive linemen and linebackers are among the first to participate.

A consensus All-America selection and the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Carter totaled 68 tackles, including 23.5 tackles for loss to lead the FBS, as well as 12 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games.

A former linebacker who moved this season to defensive end, Carter had 172 career tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 23 sacks and five forced fumbles in 42 games the past three seasons.

–Field Level Media