Tag: Kayvon Thibodeaux

Azeez Ojulari relieved to remain with Giants

The New York Giants weren’t able to trade impending free agent linebacker Azeez Ojulari, which is jut fine with him.

The NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday without the New York Giants making any deals.

There was speculation that they could part ways with some veterans as another season has gone south on them. Impending free agents such as outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari and wide receiver Darius Slayton were mentioned as two players who could be traded.

In the end, neither was dealt, which is just fine by Ojulari, who is enjoying his first injury-free season in three years and has complied 6.0 sacks thus far.

“It’s cool that I don’t have to move or anything,” Ojulari said on Wednesday, via the New York Post. “I’m happy to be here and ready to keep going.”

After bursting onto the scene as a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2021, Ojulari has not been able to stay healthy, leading to the Giants seeking pass-rush options elsewhere.

In 2022, Big Blue selected Kayvon Thibodeaux with the 5th overall pick in the draft and then traded for Pro Bowler Brian Burns this offseason.

Thibodeaux has been on injured reserve (IR) for the past month with a broken wrist, which has opened the door for Ojulari to have his best season since setting the franchise rookie record for sacks (8.0) in 2021.

“I’m happy it’s behind me,” Ojulari said of the trade talk. “I’m locked in on this (next) game now. I don’t have to focus on all the other stuff or learn a new defense.

“It’s a good relief off my back. The mentality stays the same — continue to play hard and physical.”

There were several teams interested in Ojulari over the past few weeks. Arizona, Pittsburgh and Detroit were all in the market for pass rush help but found that help elsewhere. The rumors that surfaced said the Giants would let Ojulari go for a late-round draft pick.

Ojulari will now concentrate on his current role and let the chips fall where they may come March when he officially becomes a free agent.

“All I can do is play my role,” Ojulari said. “Whenever I’m out there, do whatever I can to be effective and make the most of the opportunity. We’ve still eight games — that’s a lot of games to put out good film and try to get wins.”

It sounds like Ojulari would like to stay but the Giants may not have that luxury. Things have just not lined up the right way in this relationship, which is a shame as Ojulari is clearly a talented player and you can never have enough of those.

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Giants sacking quarterbacks at a historic rate in 2024

The 2024 New York Giants are on pace to set a new NFL single-season record for sacks by a team.

The New York Giants plan to upgrade their pass rush this past offseason has been a success thus far. They are leading the NFL in sacks with 35 after eight weeks.

They are sacking the quarterback at a rate not seen in nearly a quarter of a century.

The Giants have 61 QB hits, tied with Baltimore for second in the league and two behind the league leader, Denver.

The Giants’ pass rush is led by interior lineman Dexter Lawrence, who leads the NFL with 9.0 sacks, and linebackers Azeez Ojulari (6.0 sacks) and Brian Burns (5.0).

Safety Jason Pinnock has three sacks and four other players — defensive lineman D.J. Davidson and linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux, Bobby Okereke, and Micah McFadden — each have two.

The Giants are averaging 4.4 sacks per game. No other team is averaging over 3.9. The Giants are on pace for 74 sacks over the 17-game regular season.

The NFL record for team sacks is 72, set by the 1984 Chicago Bears. That was naturally over a 16-game season.

The Giants team record for sacks in a single season is 68, set back in 1985.

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Healthy again, Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari is reviving career

New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari is healthy again and reminding everyone just how dominant he can be as a pass rusher.

New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari began his NFL career back in 2021 as a highly-touted second-round draft pick out of Georgia.

Ojulari fell to the second round due to concerns about his surgically repaired knee. The Giants pounced and were rewarded by Ojulari who went on to set a franchise record for sacks by a rookie (8).

But since that season, Ojulari has largely been unavailable due to various injuries that do not include the knee that caused him to drop in the draft.

Ojulari started just 10 games over the next two seasons and headed into training camp this year, he had been replaced by the likes of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Boogie Basham, and Brian Burns.

The Giants had lost hope that the once-promising Ojulari would ever realize his once-massive potential.

This season, those hopes have been rekindled as Ojulari, who will be a free agent next March, has stayed healthy and become a force rushing the passer.

Ojulari has 6.0 sacks over the Giants’ first eight games this season and has gotten an opportunity due to a wrist injury to Thibodeaux. Ojulari put some wisdom behind his answer when asked how he was handling the unexpected opportunity.

“It’s an opportunity that popped up. I’m trying to take advantage of every one I get. Every chance, every rep I get. I’m trying to take it to the fullest I can,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I know it’s my fourth year here. I just have to give it all I’ve got and try to help this team win. Play good defense. That’s all I want to do, really.”

Now comes the prospect of losing Ojulari to free agency with the team licked into Burns and Thibodeaux.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I’m just ready to keep working here. I love it here. Ready to keep working. I’m just doing my thing.”

The Giants would love to keep him, too. With the trade deadline less than a week away, they apparently have no intention of moving Ojulari, who is on pace for a 13-sack season.

The real story is that Ojulari has stayed healthy and with that comes a fresh attitude toward the job and the game.

“It feels great because we put in so much work into this game. Nobody wants to be hurt. It’s just part of the game, stuff you can’t control. You’ve got to just play your role, play your game, and just try to be as good as you can when you’re out there,” he said.

Thibodeaux will be back soon and the Giants will once again have an embarrassment of riches in their pass rush, which leads the NFL in sacks this year.

“Whenever he gets back healthy, we just try to continue to compete, execute, push each other, work together and just continue to get better and try to help this team win. And have a great defense all in one,” Ojulari said.

The Giants haven’t had many sunny stories this season and you never know where they are going to come from. The resurgence of Ojulari has been more than a pleasant and welcome surprise for Big Blue.

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Giants place Kayvon Thibodeaux on IR, elevate two from practice squad

The New York Giants have placed LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) on injured reserve and elevated two players from their practice squad.

On Saturday, the New York Giants placed linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux on injured reserve (IR) to make room for punter Matt Haack on the 53-man roster.

Haack was signed to punt against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football with Jamie Gillan out due to a hamstring injury.

Thibodeaux suffered a wrist injury during a Week 5 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. While he returned to the contest, post-game tests revealed he had suffered a broken scaphoid bone. He underwent surgery on Wednesday morning.

Although head coach Brian Daboll expressed optimism regarding Thibodeaux’s injury, he will now miss a minimum of four weeks.

“I’m taking it day by day here or week to week, like I said. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Daboll said of Thibodeaux playing with a cast.

In addition to placing Thibodeaux on IR, the Giants also elevated running back Dante Miller and wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins from their practice squad.

Both Miller and Hodgins were elevated in Week 5, leaving each with a single standard elevation remaining.

Against the Seahawks, Miller saw just a single offensive snap while Hodgins was on the field for 35 percent of the offensive plays. Neither found their way into the box score.

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Giants’ Malik Nabers, Kayvon Thibodeaux out vs. Bengals in Week 6

The New York Giants have ruled WR Malik Nabers and LB Kayvon Thibodeaux out against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6.

The New York Giants will continue their regular season slate against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

For the second consecutive week, they will be shorthanded.

Before practice on Friday, head coach Brian Daboll revealed that rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) will not play against the Bengals.

“He’ll be doing stuff out on the field like he was the last two days,” Daboll said. “He won’t make it. . . He had a pretty good concussion.”

The Giants will also be without linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), who Daboll said could end up on injured reserve (IR).

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Bengals can be found below:

Luke Hales/Getty Images

New York Giants

Out: WR Malik Nabers (concussion), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist)

Doubtful: None

Questionable: WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder), P Jamie Gillan (hamstring), RB Devin Singletary (groin)

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals

Out: None

Doubtful: CB DJ Ivey (knee)

Questionable: RB Chase Brown (quadriceps), CB Mike Hilton (knee)

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Giants injury report: Malik Nabers remains in concussion protocol

New York Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers is at risk of missing his second straight game as he remains in concussion protocol.

The New York Giants took the field on Thursday for their second of three practices ahead of a Week 6 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium.

With time once again running low, it was a big day for rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers and several of the other injured veterans.

A day after doing some work outside with the trainers, Nabers remained sidelined. There has been no change in his status, head coach Brian Daboll revealed.

“The same spot he was in yesterday,” Daboll told reporters.

There was better news on running back Devin Singletary, whom Daboll said was “advancing.”

Meanwhile, offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr. continues to sit out due to an illness.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: WR Malik Nabers (concussion), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), OL Jon Runyan Jr. (illness), WR Bryde Ford-Wheaton (shoulder)

Limited participant: RB Devin Singletary (groin), LB Brian Burns (groin), CB Adoree’ Jackson (calf), CB Andru Phillips (calf/shoulder), DL DJ Davidson (shoulder)

Full participant: OL Greg Van Roten (rest)

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Giants vs. Bengals: 4 causes for concern in Week 6

The New York Giants square off in a Sunday night battle against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6. Here are four reasons for concern.

The New York Giants will host the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night in Week 6, looking to carry some of the momentum generated in an upset of the Seattle Seahawks a week ago.

Despite the Giants being home under the bright lights against a 1-4 Bengals team, New York opened as 3.5-point home underdogs ahead of Sunday Night Football.

With the Giants hoping to get back to .500 in Week 6, here are four causes for concern.

Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bengals’ passing game

The Bengals have two premier talents at the wide receiver position in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and a heck of a quarterback in Joe Burrow throwing their way.

After an impressive rookie year, Deonte Banks has had a rough start to his sophomore campaign. He did, however, have a great game last week.

Banks has already had to deal with Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and DK Metcalf. The road does not get any easier with Chase on the horizon.

Shane Bowen’s defense will have to figure out ways to throw off the Bengals’ passing game. It may have to come to the Giants pass rush, which leads the league in sacks.

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Giants’ pass rush short-handed

The Giants pass rush took a hit on Wednesday when news broke that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux would be week-to-week following wrist surgery.

Although Thibodeaux isn’t the most important piece on the defensive line, his presence has certainly been felt this season. He may not show up on the stat sheet as much as he or the fans would like. However, he has been making big plays occasionally and drawing penalties as well.

Without Thibodeaux, the Giants’ strength on the defense certainly took a hit and they will have to find a way to continue getting pressure on the quarterback.

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Bengals desperate for a win

Cincinnati is a team that came into the season with much higher expectations than the Giants. Quite simply, the Bengals’ backs are against the wall. They need a win in the worst way with the division and their season slipping away one game at a time. If they have any chance at turning the season around, they will have to win Sunday and avoid dropping to 1-5.

Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Giants in primetime

We all know how bad Daniel Jones and the Giants have been in primetime. They will have to prove their doubters wrong and put an end to the ugly streak. A statement win against a Joe Burrow-led Bengals team could go a long way in quieting the talks about the Giants’ lack of success in primetime games.

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Giants’ Azeez Ojulari prepared to step back into starting role

New York Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari is prepared to step back into the starting role as Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) recovers.

On Wednesday, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll informed the media that starting outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had surgery to repair a broken wrist and would be “week-to-week.”

In his absence, Azeez Ojulari, a player the Giants have been waiting for to pop for four seasons, will be the next man up in Thibodeaux’s spot.

“Azeez has been good for us. He’ll be important if Kayvon’s not there,” said Daboll. “And, whether it’s Boogie (Basham), whether it’s Pat (Johnson), whoever it may be, we have confidence in the guys.”

But it will likely be Ojulari, a former second-round pick out of Georgia, who gets the snaps. He has produced when healthy, which is what he finally is this season.

Ojualri has played in all five games this season. He has 10 total tackles, one for a loss, with two QB hits, one sack, and a fumble recovery in 114 (37 percent) of the defensive snaps.

“No,” Ojulari replied when asked if it’s harder to prepare now that he is going from role player to starter. “I’m coming in every day and trying to execute one day at a time. Whatever it is I have to do, when I step out there on the field, I try to give it my all, try to make a play and make an impact.”

Ojulari is fitting into the Giants’ plans and appears to be content with the role he’s had and the way the defense has played this season.

“We all work together. We all work together as one, as a unit,” he said. “We push each other every day at practice. We all try to improve and get better. It’s the standard here, try to continue to improve and get better and push each other out here and continue to try to get wins.”

That’s what they’ll try to do this Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow, who has been sacked only 11 times this season.

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Report: Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux could miss up to six weeks

New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux could reportedly miss up to six weeks but others are suggesting a shorter absence.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll delivered unfortunate injury news on Wednesday, revealing that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux had undergone wrist surgery and is considered “week to week.”

“I’m not going to give you a timeline or anything like that. I would just say he’s week to week,” he told reporters. “I’m encouraged with what I’ve heard. But again, you never know.”

Thibodeaux injured his wrist during a Week 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks but returned to the field and continued to play. However, postgame tests revealed that he had suffered a broken scaphoid bone.

During Wednesday’s surgery, doctors inserted a screw into Thibodeaux’s wrist. Given the nature of the injury, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports that the 23-year-old could miss between four and six weeks.

That may be the glass-half-empty view on things as Miami-based doctor Jesse Morse, who specializes in sports medicine, believes Thibodeaux could return in as little as two weeks with a cast on.

At the moment, the only certainty is that Thibodeaux will not play on Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals and will also likely miss a Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Giants injury report: Kayvon Thibodeaux ‘week to week’ after wrist surgery

New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is consider “week to week” after undergoing wrist surgery on Wednesday morning.

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday morning in preparation for a Week 6 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

All eyes were understandably on rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who missed last Sunday’s victory over the Seattle Seahawks due to a concussion despite 10 days to heal.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Nabers remained in concussion protocol but did take a step forward as he worked outside with trainers for the first time.

“He is doing better,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters, adding that Nabers is “day to day.”

Meanwhile, Daboll revealed that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is considered “week to week” with a wrist injury that required surgery on Wednesday morning. He is not expected to play in Week 6.

“I’m encouraged with what I’ve heard but, again, you never know,” Daboll said of Thibodeaux’s long-term prognosis.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: WR Malik Nabers (concussion), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), OL Jon Runyan Jr. (illness), OL Greg Van Roten (rest)

Limited participant: RB Devin Singletary (groin), LB Brian Burns (groin), CB Adoree’ Jackson (calf), CB Andru Phillips (groin/shoulder)

Full participant: N/A

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