Lorenzo Carter’s disappearance troubling for NY Giants
There was some optimism entering this season that Lorenzo Carter would breakout in his return from a torn Achilles, but the NY Giants’ edge rusher has instead disappointed
The NY Giants were banking on Lorenzo Carter returning to form this season, following a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Week 5 of the 2020 campaign, but through three weeks a bounce back season hasn’t materialized.
Carter has seen his role diminish with each passing week, playing in 82 percent of the Giants‘ defensive snaps in the season-opener against the Denver Broncos, 75 percent of the snaps in Week 2, before playing only 52 percent of the snaps in Sunday’s disheartening last-second loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
While rookie Azeez Ojulari has been promising, and shown potential, Carter hasn’t anchored the pass rush as it was expected he would. Far from it.
Through three weeks, Carter has just 10 total tackles, he hasn’t recorded a sack, and produced only five total pressures.
In a contract season, Carter is off to an inauspicious start.
Sunday was rock bottom, according to Pro Football Focus, for Carter amid his slow start.
"Lorenzo Carter was a bit more of a liability with his 40.0 PFF run-defense grade (on first review). Carter also failed to record a single pressure in the game."
Through three weeks, Carter has just a 56.5 overall grade from PFF, with a 59.6 pass-rushing mark.
Amid Carter’s disappearance, it should be little surprise that half the teams in the NFL have fewer sacks than the NY Giants’ six.
After a pair of fourth quarter collapses, the NY Giants’ defense is going to need a far more productive and consistent pass rush, especially entering the teeth of the schedule that includes showdown @ the New Orleans Saints, @ Dallas, vs. the Los Angeles Rams over the next month.
That includes Carter playing a far more vital role than he has to date.
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Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.