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Abdul Carter practice diary: Giants rookie all business as he makes routine of wreaking havoc

Abdul Carter practice diary: Giants rookie all business as he makes routine of wreaking havoc

New York Times2 days ago
The New York Giants spent the No. 3 overall pick on Abdul Carter, with the idea that the linebacker could make an instant impact on their defense.
In the three months since they called in the pick, just about everything Carter has done on the field has reinforced that idea. He has looked flat-out dominant at times, like he's ready to take over an NFL game right now.
Of course, we're still a month or so away from putting that idea to the test. In the meantime, however, I thought it would be fun to provide Giants fans some insight into what it's like to watch Carter at practice. So, here's a minute-by-minute account of Tuesday's practice, which should provide a behind-the-scenes look at the early stages of the 6-foot-3, 252-pounder's development.
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7:00 a.m.: Before Carter even steps onto the field, he's well into his day at the Giants' practice facility. Part of the routine he's tried to establish since becoming a Giant means being at the facility by 7 a.m.
'It's an early wake-up, come in early, get my body right, get in the meetings and (be ready) on the field,' Carter said.
9:52 a.m.: Carter emerges from the Giants' facility, descending the steps and running across the field. He points over to where outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen is standing, getting things ready for practice. Carter high-knees and runs over to his position coach, shaking hands as they greet each other. The two chat and line up a bit against each other a few times.
'I'm trying to make that part of my routine, getting out here early, getting work in before practice,' Carter said. 'Get my body warmed up, my moves getting warmed up. Then once I get to practice, just get to work.'
9:59 a.m.: Carter and Bullen talk on their way over to another field as practice officially kicks off at 10 a.m. The Giants open every practice with a situational walk-through. Carter takes the field, lining up on the defense's left side against right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor — a preview of how Carter will spend a lot of his day.
10:04 a.m.: With the walk-through complete, players get in line for stretches and warmups. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen approaches Carter, shaking hands and tapping his helmet as he greets other defensive players lined up.
10:10 a.m.: Before the real work of the day begins, the team comes together midfield in a huddle. Carter and coach Brian Daboll, however, use the moment to chat a bit.
'We always just check up on each other,' Carter said. 'Just talking about practice, what we should focus on, what I should focus on, things I can improve on, just things like that.'
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As the huddle breaks, the pair walk and talk a bit before Carter heads over to take part in individual drills.
Each position group breaks out to work together in one part of the Giants' three practice fields. We've mostly gotten lucky during camp, as we have a front-row seat during this portion of practice. We've been close enough to see Carter's shoe come off in one practice as he sped through a drill. But Tuesday, Carter and the other outside linebackers head to the end of the far field. They're working with bags and blocking sleds. Carter performs one move in slow motion before going full speed as he takes direction from Bullen. It can be hard to remember sometimes that Carter hasn't played a lot of outside linebacker, as he only transitioned to the position for his final season at Penn State.
10:15 a.m.: The linebackers are pushing each other with one hand up high on the other's chest. Carter matches up a bit against free agent acquisition Chauncey Golston, as they take turns. From afar, the drill makes Carter look like Darth Vader — a character he's long embraced with Vader's name sometimes written on his eye black during his collegiate tenure at Penn State. While he's yet to record an NFL sack, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him channel Vader during a sack celebration.
A post shared by Abdul Carter (@abdu1carter)
10:19 a.m.: Unfortunately for us nosy reporters, the Giants set up the second day of offensive linemen/defensive linemen one-on-ones on the far field. With a crowd of linemen blocking the view, it's tough to get the full picture for any rep. Luckily, fan videos assist what I'm seeing. From my vantage point, I tally five reps for Carter. The first two appeared to be up against James Hudson, who's been playing left tackle in place of Andrew Thomas. The next two came against Evan Neal, who's been working at both guard spots as he makes the transition inside.
Neal held his own against Carter on the first rep, while Carter got around Neal on the second rep thanks to some fast hands.
Evan Neal v. Abdul Carter round 2 https://t.co/MPtGIdk13g pic.twitter.com/nLRI2Tb5qn
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) July 29, 2025
'It's just iron sharpening iron,' Carter said of the one-on-ones. 'Just us out here competing. That's what's gonna make us better for the games.'
The final rep I caught came against Eluemunor.
10:34 a.m.: Carter isn't running with the starters during the first 11-on-11 period. Instead, he chats with Bullen while watching starting OLBs Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Carter comes out with the second team defense for his first reps of the team period. He's lined up on the left side for five snaps before hustling back off the sidelines.
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10:45 a.m.: The Giants defense heads off to a far field for an install period as they get ready for the day's game plan. Carter watches at first before going into the rotation, which mimics the next team period.
10:54 a.m.: The second 11-on-11 period begins, and after two reps, Carter replaces Thibodeaux with the starters. On one play, Carter breezes by the offensive line and chases after QB Russell Wilson with no one blocking his path. It's a glimmer of the signature burst speed his teammates have talked so much about.
10:59 a.m.: The second-team offense enters, and Carter gets one play against them before retreating to the sidelines.
11:01 a.m.: With Winston back in at QB, Carter plays another two reps, including one against this year's fifth rounder, Marcus Mbow.
11:10 a.m.: A special teams period gives Carter and some of the other defensive linemen a break to catch their breath and hydrate.
11:18 a.m.: With an extreme heat warning and the real-feel temperature close to 100 degrees, it's the official team water break. The Giants have paused mid-practice when it's been exceedingly hot this camp, with the training staff handing out watermelon and other hydration-friendly snacks/liquids. Carter, like this reporter, has been hydrating at plenty of points during practice — not just during the break period. He also spends this time talking to Bullen and speaks with offensive pass came coordinator/QBs coach Shea Tierney and QB Tommy DeVito a bit, too, just before the next period begins.
11:20 a.m.: It's another team period, and Carter gets two reps with the first unit before Thibodeaux replaces him. One thing I wanted to ask Carter about is why he changes his stance. He's in a three-point stance for one rep and a two-point stance on another. Carter said how he starts just depends on how he's feeling:
'I like to mix it up, change it up, and not give the offense the same looks over and over again,' Carter said.
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Carter said he'd never really played in a 3-point stance until his final year at Penn State, when he made the switch to edge, and Bullen gives the players freedom to choose.
'As long as we're making plays, as long as we're doing that job, we good,' Carter said.
11:24 a.m.: Carter is back on the field, taking three reps against the second-team offense. On the final two plays, he's lined up on the right side rather than the left.
'It doesn't matter for me,' Carter said when asked about which side he prefers.
11:35 a.m.: Following two more reps with the first unit for Carter comes the second and final special teams period. Kicker Jude McAtamney is getting in some attempts with Carter lined up on defense.
11:45 a.m.: After watching the start of the final team period on the sidelines, Carter comes in for some of his most memorable moments of the day. This team period is more situational with each QB starting at first-and-10 on the 20-yard line. Carter plays three reps with the starters, including a likely would-be sack of Wilson. From my vantage point, Carter pushed Eluemunor nearly into Wilson, while Golston was making his way through guard Jon Runyan Jr. and left tackle James Hudson as the play unfolded.
Carter then played two reps with fellow first-round rookie Jaxson Dart at QB, and it was the second play that became one of Carter's highlights of the day. Carter burst around right tackle Marcus Mbow and was quickly in Dart's face. While Dart managed to throw a beautiful touchdown pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Carter arguably would have tallied a sack there.
Spent the day watching OLB Abdul Carter so I'll have the full practice diary report later, including his thoughts on this play 👀 #giants https://t.co/KEx3Xw6tQ9 pic.twitter.com/W56WOgEMsQ
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) July 29, 2025
'I saw he was making checks up front,' Carter said. 'I knew the ball was about to snap, so I got a good get-off, hit my move and got there pretty quick.'
Carter briefly chatted with Daboll after the play.
'He was celebrating the touchdown,' Carter said of Daboll. 'But I was trying to tell him it was already a sack.'
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Carter played two more reps against a Winston-led offense, and those would be the last of the rookie's day as he headed back to the sidelines, drinking plenty of fluids and watching the remainder of practice there.
Noon: The longest and by far the hottest practice of training camp finally concludes, ending at noon on the dot. With his helmet off, Carter walks into the post-practice huddle.
12:07 p.m.: With the huddle broken down, Carter walks across the field to complete some media interviews, including this one. As he walks, fans chant 'Abdul' and 'Carter,' trying to snag his attention for a photo or autograph. After his media obligations, Carter high-fives a group of kids lined up before heading into the facility to more cheers and chants of his name.
But while Carter's duties on the field are finished, he still has hours at the facility ahead of him. Up next: time in the ice tubs and watching film.
'It's a grind,' Carter said.
Carter will get a short break from his typical routine Wednesday, as the team has the day off after three straight practices. Then, it's back to the grind.
'Just another day to get better,' Carter said.
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