A pillar in what has been a promising Giants pass rush, Kayvon Thibodeaux will see his third NFL season paused. The former top-10 pick is set for surgery.
Thibodeaux sustained a wrist injury, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the Oregon alum is undergoing the procedure to repair a fractured scaphoid bone. While an IR placement is not certain, Brian Daboll (several times) called Thibodeaux week-to-week.
While Daboll refused to confirm a timeline, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes a four- to six-week absence is expected. This would make an IR move likely. The procedure included a screw insertion into Thibodeaux’s repaired wrist, and while he could beat that timetable, the Giants can save a roster spot by giving him four weeks to recover. Placing Thibodeaux on IR now would sideline him until Week 10; the Giants have a Week 11 bye.
Breaking through with 11.5 sacks last season, Thibodeaux now teams with Brian Burns at OLB — on a front seven still anchored by All-Pro Dexter Lawrence. Thibodeaux and Burns have operated as high-end Lawrence wingmen thus far, with the dominant DT ripping off six sacks in five games. Thibodeax and Burns each have two apiece, though Thibodeax’s seven QB hits outpace Burns’ four. Both OLBs have contributed to sack binges that have helped the Giants recover from an 0-2 start.
The Giants sacked Deshaun Watson eight times in a Week 3 win and dropped Geno Smith seven times in their Week 5 upset in Seattle. Thibodeaux notched a half-sack in each game while taking down Dak Prescott in Week 4. The Giants based much of their defensive plan around the Burns-Thibodeaux combination, passing on a notable cornerback investment as they doubled down on their pass rush. Thibodeaux missing time will apply more pressure on New York’s secondary.
Thibodeaux missed three games as a rookie but played in all 17 Giants contests last season. A preseason MCL sprain delayed Thibodeaux’s start to his career, but he has played every game since his Week 4 rookie-year debut. The Giants have supplanted starter Azeez Ojulari in place as a fill-in option.
A 2021 second-round pick, Ojulari has 25 starts on his NFL resume. He totaled eight sacks as a rookie and notched 5.5 in seven games in 2022. Ojulari struggled last season, providing an extra push for the Giants to trade for Burns. But the contract-year rusher, who has recorded one sack thus far this season (while playing 37% of New York’s defensive snaps, provides a solid option as a backup while Thibodeaux rehabs.