Giants' Abdul Carter refutes report that he slept through walkthrough, claims he was getting treatment

After the New York Giants benched rookie Abdul Carter for the first defensive series against the Green Bay Packers, a report emerged that he was being disciplined for sleeping through a walkthrough. Carter refuted that report, saying he was getting treatment at he time.

Carter, who owned his mistake, told ESPN that he got confused in the wake of interim coach Mike Kafka changing up the daily schedule. While the team was in a walkthrough, Carter said he was in the training room.

"My mistake was an honest mistake," Carter said. "I own the fact that it was an honest mistake. I was getting treatment and I told coach Kafka that, too. But to say I was sleeping at that time just wasn't true. And it also wasn't a trend. This was the only time it happened."

After Sunday's loss, Carter admitted he made a mistake, but he didn't say exactly what the mistake was.

"I made a mistake during the week that was detrimental to the team," Carter said. "I already know that whatever I do have is going to have consequences. That was the consequence, have to live with it, keep playing."

With Kayvon Thibodeaux inactive with a shoulder injury, Carter was expected to start, but played every snap after his benching and finished with one tackle and one hurry. It was an opportunity for Carter to show out off the edge after being primarily used situationally at various positions within Shane Bowen's defense.

While Carter's pass-rush win rate ranks in the top-half of the league, he registered just half of a sack through the first 11 games.

Brian Burns, who leads the Giants with 13 sacks and 17 tackles for losses , said he spoke with Carter on what he needed to correct moving forward. New York's co-captain, like any veteran player would, offered words of encouragement to the rookie.

"He was locked in how I expect him to be," Burns said. "Nothing really besides the regular: Stay in it. When you get your opportunity, show out. Just continue to study and be on your job."

Giants interim coach Mike Kafka said his disciplinary decision will be kept "in-house."

"He played his butt off. He practiced his tail off," Kafka said. "I'm really happy about Abdul and excited to watch him continue to grow and continue to play a lot more as a pro … and be the great player that I think he is."

Pressed on answering why Carter was benched, Kafka refused.

"I love Abdul and what he brings to this team, the skill set he has ... this guy loves ball," Kafka said. "And I'm excited again to watch him attack this week of practice, and continue to work and grow and be the great player that I think he is."

Taken No. 3 overall in April's draft, Carter was one of the preseason favorites to win the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year honor  given his pass-rush pedigree formed as a college superstar at Penn State, following in the foot steps of Micah Parsons. Carter notched 12 sacks in his final season with the Nittany Lions after making the transition to defensive end from off-ball linebacker, which is where many expected New York to use him as a rookie.