New York Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter broke his silence on the controversial one-series benching in Week 11, fully owning a mistake that led to the discipline while pushing back against reports that he fell asleep during a team walk-through.

The incident occurred after interim head coach Mike Kafka — who took over following Brian Daboll’s firing — shifted the team’s Monday-Tuesday schedule. Carter missed a walk-through while in the recovery room receiving red light therapy for pain and inflammation. He explained he informed Kafka about the treatment beforehand, but didn’t hear the walk-through announcement.

“My mistake was an honest mistake,” Carter told reporters on Wednesday. “I own the fact that it was an honest mistake… 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.”

An initial report claimed Carter was asleep in the facility, prompting the benching as part of Kafka’s emphasis on accountability. Carter denied dozing off, calling the narrative inaccurate and frustrating.

Despite the distraction, the 2025 first-round pick insisted the episode “hasn’t been that tough” and the team has moved on.

“We’ve moved on from it,” he said. “I’m focused on this week… I have to do my job, be where I’m supposed to be.”

Carter expressed eagerness to rebound in Detroit, reaffirming his passion: “I love the game… I’m going to finish strong.”

The Giants hope so.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Abdul Carter ‘going to finish strong’ after benching mistake