Abdul Carter was asleep on the job.
The rookie first-round pick was benched for the first series Sunday because he missed a walkthrough last week while sleeping in the team facility, a source confirmed to The Post. The Athletic was first to report the reason that Carter sat the first six defensive snaps before logging the final 45.
“I made a mistake during the week that was detrimental to the team,” Carter said after the game. “I already know that whatever I do have is going to have consequences. That was the consequence, have to live with it, keep playing.”
Carter deferred specifics to interim head coach Mike Kafka “if he decides to let y’all know what it is.” Kafka declined to specify the reason for his decision.
Carter has made a habit of running late to team functions, including meetings, as a rookie, a second source told The Post. Any disciplinary action that he faced from former head coach Brian Daboll was kept out of the public eye.
It set a bad tone because Carter was given his best opportunity to make a splash Sunday with Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined by shoulder injury. The Giants started Tomon Fox, who was cut in August, in place of Carter, who then had two pressures, one quarterback hit and one tackle over the rest of the game.
Giants teammates didn’t seem overly concerned by Carter’s absence.
“It’s just professional,” Brian Burns said. “There ain’t really too much to be said. There wasn’t no big meeting or anything like that. It was just between him and Kafka and it got handled.”
Kafka raved about Carter’s bright future after the game.
“I love Abdul and what he brings to this team, the skill set he has. This guy loves ball. 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.”
— Paul Schwartz contributed to this report
