NFL News: Giants rookie benched for 2nd time in 3 games

New York Giants rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter and head coach Mike Kafka were coy when asked why the former Penn State standout was benched to start their game Monday against the New England Patriots.

Carter, who had already seen some of his playing time wasted because he missed a team meeting, didn’t exactly go into detail after the game.

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“S— happens,” Carter said when asked to comment on his second benching in three weeks.

“I’m not going into details. S— happens,” he replied when asked again.

Carter didn’t seem to like being asked a third time as he referenced the other two comments he made about it.

GIANTS ROOKIE BLITZES REPORTS HE WAS DISCIPLINED FOR SLEEPING DURING TEAM MEETING

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, right, runs for a first down against New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka was also less clear about the rationale for benching Carter.

“It was a coach’s decision — my decision,” Kafka said, adding that it was based on how things went during the week. He denied it was a disciplinary reason.

“It’s unfortunate, but that’s kind of how we’ve worked with it this week.”

Carter had four tackles and a sack despite missing the first two series of the game. The Giants lost the game 33-15 and started the first half down 30-7.

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The Patriots had 395 total yards on offense and were 6-of-13 on third downs. New York has yet to win a game on the road and fell to 0-8 this season.