New York Giants rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has been playing well since his return to the field but entering Week 6, he had yet to record his first sack.
That changed with 1:40 remaining on the clock in Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Thibodeaux bent the edge as Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson attempted to step up into the pocket. Without a clean route to the tackle, Thibodeaux swatted at Jackson’s hand, sending the ball to the turf.
Leonard Williams made the eventual recovery and the Giants went on to win the game — their second consecutive comeback upset.
After the victory, Thibodeaux was openly emotional.
ALL GIANTS FANS RN: pic.twitter.com/Cld4AfQXa4
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 16, 2022
“I really cried,” Thibodeaux told reporters. “You know, yeah, cool guys cry.”
For Thibodeaux, the strip-sack of Jackson also fulfilled a personal prophecy.
Back in June, Thibodeaux conducted a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) and responded to a question about which quarterback he was most looking forward to sacking. His answer, as you might have guessed, was Lamar Jackson.
“It’s a blessing. It was the greatest moment,” Thibodeaux said. “I really sat out there and cried just because the emotion I felt that now, I’m in the NFL. Now that you can really contribute and this is what they pay me to be here for, so the fact that I was able to get it done is a great feeling.”
With the pressure of securing his first career sack now off his shoulders, the sky is the limit for Thibodeaux.
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