PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley is plenty familiar with Giants rookie Abdul Carter. Barkley watched Carter terrorize Big Ten backfields for his alma mater for the last three years.
But on Thursday, Barkley will get his closest look yet at Carter in a clash of Penn State stars.
Barkley’s Eagles will face Carter’s Giants in an NFC East showdown at MetLife Stadium. The Birds are pushing to bounce back from a 21-17 loss to the Broncos and get their inconsistent offense rolling. Carter will be doing everything in his power to stop that from happening.
And Barkley knows all too well what Carter is capable of doing.
“I’ve been watching him for a long time at Penn State and on film. He’s really good,” Barkley said Tuesday. “He’s definitely going to be a challenge for our guys up front.”
Carter was the No. 3 overall pick by the Giants in the 2025 NFL draft, becoming the highest-drafted Penn State player since Barkley went No. 2 to New York in 2018.
Carter, a North Philadelphia native and La Salle High School product, had three stellar seasons with Penn State. He really took off last year after he made the switch from linebacker to edge rusher full-time, racking up an FBS-leading 23 1/2 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter celebrates a tackle during the first quarter of the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
Carter has only a half-sack through five games with the Giants. On the surface, it might appear he’s not making much of an impact. But the underlying numbers tell a different story for the former Nittany Lion. Carter has generated 22 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. That total is tied for 12th in the NFL and ranks first among NFC East players.
“Sometimes the stats don’t speak for how much disruption he’s causing,” Barkley said.
The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, meanwhile, will be trying to get going against his former team. Barkley, after rushing for 2,005 yards in his debut season with the Eagles, has only 267 rushing yards on 83 carries (3.2 yards per attempt) through five games.
The Giants have allowed 700 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry so far this season, ranking 27th and 29th in the NFL, respectively. So this is an opportunity for Barkley to get his. But he also understands he’ll be needed in pass protection to help keep Jalen Hurts upright.
Carter, if he gets past Lane Johnson or Jordan Mailata, will be breathing down Hurts’ neck. And he isn’t the only pass rusher the Giants have. New York also boasts All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns and former first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“It’s going to take all of us, because it’s not just (Carter),” Barkley said. “There’s about five of them over there that can get to the quarterback and make some plays on defense. So we’ve got to accept that challenge and be ready for it.”
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