Abdul

Carter

Carter returned to practice on Friday, logging a limited session. Giants DL Dexter Lawrence (illness) was also removed from the injury report, though he did not resume practicing. We tentatively expect both players to be on the field for Week 18, but projecting their snap counts is tough. The Giants and Cowboys have both been eliminated from playoff contention.

Carter’s absence is unsurprising. The coaching staff reportedly sent him and others home yesterday. The Athletic’s Dan Duggan noted DL Dexter Lawrence was also absent on Thursday. He believes Lawrence is “also in the illness category.” Both players have a chance to face the Cowboys this week, though the team notably kept TE Theo Johnson (illness) sidelined in Week 17, and he has not yet resumed practicing.

Three Giants players “were sent home or not at practice as they deal with illnesses.” Carter is, unfortunately, among them. The Giants’ stud rookie has been playing very well as of late. An absence would make life far easier on the Cowboys this week. Stay tuned.

The No. 3 overall pick was benched for a series on Sunday after reports surfaced that he slept through practice last week. Carter says the Giants changed their practice schedule and he was getting treatment while he was supposed to be at the walk-through. The young defender still owned up to his mistake but wanted to clear the air on exactly what happened. Between the Carter benching and a loss to the Packers in Week 11, it has been a rocky start for interim head coach Mike Kafka. Things won’t be getting any better in Week 12 when the Giants travel to Detroit to take on the Lions.

Carter was added to the injury report on Friday as a limited participant before being listed as questionable. That likely means he suffered the hamstring issue in practice. Per Rapoport, he will go through some work before inactives before the team makes a final decision on his status. The rookie has 24 pressures and .5 sacks this year.

He was a surprise limited participant in Friday’s practice, indicating he hurt it mid-session. Carter did talk to the media on Friday, which is usually a good sign, but he’s probably a true question mark heading into Week 7.

Per USA Today’s Art Stapleton, Carter’s fully guaranteed $45.255 million contract includes a $29.497 million signing bonus. Carter is officially the newest member of the Giants’ loaded pass rush. He is expected to contribute significantly in year one, lining up opposite veteran EDGE Brian Burns.

Carter (6’3/250) has been a force since he stepped on campus in Happy Valley, earning Freshman All-American recognition with 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. He played linebacker during his first two campaigns, earning first Team All-Big Ten accolades, before moving to the edge last year. Carter continued to excel at the new position and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year while accruing 12 sacks and a FBS-leading 23.5 tackles for loss to go with a 92.4 PFF pass rush grade that ranked number one nationally. He posted an elite 22.9 percent win rate with a 19.4 percent pressure rate while ranking second nationally in pressures with 66. Carter didn’t test at the Combine, but after 16 games versus high-level competition, there’s no question about his talent, grit, and determination. The Philadelphia, PA native has a breakneck get off that puts opposing tackles at an immediate disadvantage, allowing him to dictate the engagement and slip blocks. An impactful punch and educated hands free Carter up to flash prototype agility and closing speed. Though not a full-sized edge setter, Carter’s incredible twitch and flexibility will help him become an instant difference-making DE1 at the NFL level.

Though Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter and Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter are certainly in play here, per the Akron Beacon Journal’s Chris Easterling, the Browns have notably “conducted private workouts and dinners with five quarterbacks,” including Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. It stands to reason that the Browns will at least add one rookie quarterback to compete with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, though whether that player arrives via the No. 2 pick remains to be seen.

Hughes acknowledged that the Giants have a “desperate need for a franchise quarterback,” but GM Joe Schoen reportedly said that he “will not force the issue” by drafting a quarterback they deem unworthy of the No. 3 overall pick. Hughes described Schoen as “giddy” when discussing the possibility of drafting Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter are still in play, though Hughes called Sanders a “reach” at the No. 3 spot.