Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux excited to have pass-rush pal Azeez Ojulari back from IR
Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants runs out of the tunnel before the start of the game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium on November 13, 2022. Credit: Getty Images
Kayvon Thibodeaux had one of his best games as a pro against the Cowboys last Thursday and believes he is “growing in the right direction” as a rookie.
Azeez Ojulari was designated to return from injured reserve on Monday.
Count those as two significant steps toward the Giants deploying the young pass-rushing bookends they envisioned for this season.
Thibodeaux missed the first two games because of an injury, and Ojulari has been limited to two games, last playing on Oct. 2, when he reinjured his calf.
Last season, Ojulari set a Giants rookie record with eight sacks.
“It’s definitely exciting,” Thibodeaux said of Ojulari’s return. “He’s a great player . . . Having him back out there is definitely going to be a one-up for the D-line and for the pass rush — for the team. So I’m excited to see him really let it loose.
“Definitely, he’s a guy who can win on any given snap. So that’s definitely going to continue to affect the quarterback and put pressure on him.”
As for Thibodeaux himself, he acknowledged that in the beginning he did not have an understanding of what was ahead for him as a rookie. But he continues to feel more comfortable by the week.
He has only one sack, a game-clincher against the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. The Giants have a modest 20 sacks as a team despite their blitz-heavy scheme.
“It was kind of a slow start for me, just really kind of learning those ins and outs,” he said. “But now I feel like I’ve been able to put a lot of it together. Now I’ve been able, with that last game, [to] really put it together and play fast.
“I do, honestly, feel like that was my fastest game.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
