Giants rookie Abdul Carter brutally flattened in viral ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment that shocks fans

New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, drafted third overall in 2025 and tipped as one of the most exciting defensive talents in years, had his dream start collide with a dose of reality in Week 2 of the preseason.

After hyping fans with a Star Wars-themed post and shining in his debut against Buffalo, Carter was floored in unforgettable fashion against the Jets — first chipped to the ground by tight end Stone Smartt, then flattened by right tackle Jay Tufele. The play instantly went viral, reminding everyone that even top prospects must endure humbling first lessons.

From social-media hype and rising stardom to a humbling fall that stunned Giants fans

Carter arrived at MetLife with the buzz of a blockbuster. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, the linebacker looked built for dominance, and his debut a week earlier had fueled optimism.

His playful social-media stunt — casting himself as a Star Wars hero — added to the growing legend. But the Jets delivered a moment that stripped the gloss. Within seconds, Carter was on the turf twice, reduced to a meme as much as a menace. It was a jolt, but also the type of moment every rookie eventually encounters.

The viral clip that spread everywhere and turned a rookie’s growing pains into a national talking point

The collision was replayed across timelines within minutes. On X, fans mixed amusement with sympathy: some laughed at the giant falling, while others urged patience, pointing out how every NFL newcomer has to take their lumps.

What made it sting more was the contrast: Carter, the face of New York’s defensive future, upended by journeymen blockers. He ended the night with just one tackle, his stat line far quieter than the storm online.

Inside the Giants’ locker room, teammates and coaches rally behind Carter with faith in his future

Inside the Giants’ locker room, there’s no panic—just belief. Offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor put it plainly, “I know that kid’s going to be great. I tell him every day, tell him when I see him I think he’s going to be great… There’s hard work, there’s talent, but there’s something that’s just God-given like his twitch and his shiftiness.”

Coaches echoed that view, stressing that Carter’s ability to learn from mistakes is part of what made him a top-three pick.

The setback, they suggested, could become fuel rather than a flaw.

Even on a night when Carter struggled, the Giants’ preseason victory showed promise across the roster

Beyond Carter’s stumble, New York had little to complain about. The Giants rolled to a 31–12 win over the Jets, with their quarterback trio of Jaxson Dart, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston orchestrating steady drives. Defensively, the team showed depth across the line, with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence anchoring the front.

Carter’s quiet stat sheet was an outlier on a night otherwise filled with progress.

Every NFL great has endured early bruises, and Carter’s viral moment could become the spark of his rise

For Carter, Saturday’s moment is unlikely to be the headline of his rookie season, but it may be the story that sticks for now. NFL legends from Lawrence Taylor to J.J. Watt have spoken of their own early humiliations, each framing them as necessary chapters in the climb to greatness. Carter’s viral tumble fits that lineage. If he responds with the same ferocity he has shown in practice, the Giants may look back on this preseason blooper as the spark that hardened their future star.Also read: Travis Kelce’s locker room stunned and electrified as Taylor Swift turns up for Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 3 clash against Chicago Bears