Abdul Carter looked on Sunday like the player the New York Giants expected him to be when they selected him No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
After a game that saw the Giants lose for the eighth straight time, this one by a 29-21 score to a Washington Commanders team that entered the game with an eight-game losing streak of its own, that is about the only thing you can feel good about from a Giants perspective. Unless, of course, maintaining the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft gives you solace.
Carter had a tackle for loss on the first Washington offensive play. His last play was a forced fumble/fumble recovery that gave the Giants ball at midfield with 2:38 to play and one last chance to avoid that eighth consecutive loss.
Carter finished with seven tackles, including three tackles for loss; two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a sack. His three tackles for loss are tied for the most by a Giants rookie since 1999, when tackles for loss became an official statistic.
The 22-year-old Carter was benched twice in Mike Kafka’s first three weeks as interim head coach, once for missing a walk-through practice and once for missing a special teams meeting. Carter has reportedly been spending more time at the Giants’ practice facility studying and working on his craft.
Sunday’s game was an indication that the work is paying off, and a hint at the kind of game-wrecking player the Giants expected him to be when they drafted him.
“Abdul played his tail off,” Kafka said. “It’s no surprise, he prepared that way. And that’s how he addressed the week. He came in, I thought he played his butt off, fumble recovery, fumble return. Had a couple plays in the backfield. He was playing with his hair on fire today. So that’s one step. He’s got to keep on stacking those days.
“You see growth from the player. You see growth from him. He’s taken accountability for it. He’s learned from those things. And he’s putting together a good week. He’s in here early, staying late, and trying to make himself a better player. And he’s helping the team. And that’s really what it’s all about. He’s not only just helping himself be prepped and ready for the game, but he’s helping the unit. He’s helping his group. He’s helping the team be more productive.”
Maybe in yet another miserable, lost season for the Giants growth from Carter down the stretch is the only truly good thing the Giants can hope for. This year is lost but for the long haul they need him to be the player he was drafted to be.
Carter admitted he arrived earlier to the facility and watched more film during the week.
“Being a better pro, being a better teammate,” Carter said. “That’s something I need to focus on. I had a good start with that this week.”
Carter added that playing well “means a lot, I feel like it was a statement, but it would have been more satisfying if we got the win.”
“I just want to do everything possible to finish strong,” Carter said.
Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler, said “I don’t know yet” if Sunday’s production would help Carter learn the value of putting in extra work.
”I’m happy he had his little game, but you have to come back and do it next week,“ Lawrence said. ”That’s greatness.“
Lawrence said Carter did it “for one week,” but that’s not enough.
“Greatness is doing it over weeks. Being consistent,” Lawrence said. “That’s what he can get to.
“His ceiling is through the roof. There’s a lot that goes into this game and us as vets have got to help him understand that and teach him that. He’s just got to keep going, keep trusting the process and not growing weary of it and just keep growing.”
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