Giants Bench Rookie Carter After Walkthrough Mix-Up

New York Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter was benched for the first defensive series of the team's 27-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday after missing a walkthrough practice earlier in the week, an incident the third overall draft pick attributed to a scheduling mix-up rather than reports that he was asleep at the team facility.

Carter, a 21-year-old former Penn State standout selected with high expectations to bolster the Giants' defense, entered the game in place of injured teammate Kayvon Thibodeaux but sat out the initial snaps as a disciplinary measure decided by interim head coach Mike Kafka. The benching marked Kafka's first week in charge following the November 10 firing of previous coach Brian Daboll. Carter played the remaining 45 defensive snaps, recording one tackle and one quarterback hit, contributing to his season totals of 23 tackles, nine quarterback hits, a half sack and one fumble recovery through 11 games.

In the days following the game, Carter pushed back against initial reports, insisting he was undergoing recovery treatment during the walkthrough and unaware of a change in practice times implemented by Kafka. "My mistake was an honest...