Abdul Carter’s Misses Second Day of Practice with Calf Injury

With Abdul Carter sidelined at practice, the Giants will have to switch to Plan B for the pass rush if he can't play.

New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter has missed both days of practice this week with a calf injury. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

New York Giants outside linebacker Abdul Carter, who is dealing with a calf injury suffered in last week’s game against the Washington Commanders, missed his second day of practice, raising concern about his availability for Sunday’s home meeting with the New Orleans Saints.

In his second NFL season, Carter has played in 92% of the Giants’ defensive snaps, up from 76% last year.

Beyond his production, a potential absence would put a significant crimp in a Giants pass rush already without Brian Burns (season-ending ACL).

Per Next Gen Stats, Carter is tied with Will Anderson Jr. of the Texans for the most quick pressures (14) under 2.5 seconds, and his pressures have come from both sides of the formation.

If Carter can’t play on Sunday, the Giants will likely turn to Trace Ford and also work Arvell Reese, who has primarily been an inside linebacker, on the edge in pass-rushing downs. And if Carter manages to play, it will be worth watching whether his usual heavy workload is reduced because of the injury.

On the other side of the ball, both Giants starting tackles, Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, also missed a second day of practice.

Thomas has settled into a practice load management plan in which he receives treatment for his painful groin issue on Wednesday and Thursday, then takes part in practice on Friday and the team’s walkthrough on Saturday.

If that continues, he should be good to go for Sunday, though it’s clear that the injury has compromised his play.

Thomas goes through his pregame warmups under the watch of Allison Boudreau, the Giants’ coordinator of rehabilitation and return to play. If he isn’t ready to go, Marcus Mbow will get the start at left tackle.

Eluemunor’s outlook for Sunday is less clear. He will test his injured leg by pushing off in the coming days, and if he does so satisfactorily, he will most likely play. If he cannot, rookie J.C. Davis is expected to get the start at right tackle.

The rest of the Giants injury report remains mostly unchanged from the previous day.

Giants Practice Participation/Game Status Report

Player	Injury	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
OLB Abdul Carter	Calf	DNP	DNP
RT Jermaine Eluemunor	Calf	DNP	DNP
CB Colton Hood	Concussion	DNP	DNP
S Tyler Nubin	Neck	DNP	DNP
LT Andrew Thomas	Groin	DNP	DNP
TE Theo Johnson	Neck	Limited	Limited
WR Darnell Mooney	Neck	Limited	Full
S Jason Pinnock	Concussion (non-contact)	Limited	Full
DB Elijah Campbell	Thumb	Full	Full
RB Najee Harris	Ribs	Full	Full
TE Isaiah Likely	Foot	Full	Full
WR Charlie Jones	Achilles		Full
LB Malik Harrison	Groin		Limited

Bold denotes a change in status.

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Saints Practice Participation/Game Status Report

Player	Injury	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.	Status
DT Vernon Broughton	Illness	Limited	Limited
LB Kaden Elis	Calf	DNP	DNP
DT Davon Godchaux	IR-Rest		DNP
LB Anfernee Jennings	Knee	DNP	DNP
RB Alvin Kamara	Back	Limited	Limited
WR Chris Olave	Illness	DNP	DNP
DT Nathan Shepherd	Illness	DNP	DNP
QB Tyler Shough	Left Hand	Full	Full
CB Lorenzo Styles	Knee		Limited
LB Tyree Wilson	Ankle	Limited	Full
LS Zach Wood*	Calf	Full	Full
DT Colby Wooden	Toe	Limited	Full
G Jeremiah Wright	Concussion	Full	Full

* Reserve list; currently in 21-day practice window.

Bold denotes a change in status.

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