The fifth overall pick in the last draft avoided a major injury after a low block by Thaddeus Moss in the preseason game against Cincinnati.
the rookie of the New York Giants, Kayvon Thibodeaux, suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain, the team announced Monday, after preliminary tests on the defensive end’s right knee. He is expected to miss three to four weeks, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The right anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus of Thibodeaux were left intact, and Giants They said they remain hopeful the first-round pick will be ready for his regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on September 11, the source told Schefter.
It’s a race against time. There are 20 days left until the first Sunday of the season.
“Fingers crossed”, revealed the head coach Brian Daboll. “Hopefully his rehab goes well and he can be out there as soon as he can.”
Thibodeaux suffered the injury in Sunday’s preseason game against the Bengalswhen he was blocked down in the second period by the tight end of Cincinnati, Thaddeus Moss. Thibodeaux immediately grabbed his right knee and left the field on his feet, but the former star of Oregon he later told reporters that “everything is fine.”
It was a play that Daball he said later, it was within the rules. But, she was rated mixed by former players and current players. Former offensive lineman for the Giants, Chris Sneesaid to ESPN who once blocked a player low in the preseason in his entire career. That was against the linebacker Ray Lewismember of the Hall of Famewho confronted him after the play.
Lewis even approached snow after the game, and explained why he doesn’t lock low during the preseason, especially when it’s on the side.
Moss is in a different situation. He is in his third professional season, trying to stay on the Los Angeles squad. Bengalsand has yet to appear in a regular campaign game. Daball considered the move with Thibodeaux like one of those “hard blocks” that come from the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Thibodeaux, the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, was enjoying a solid summer and scored a quarterback rush earlier in Sunday’s game. He was playing for the first time this summer on the opposite side of the outside linebacker. Azeez Ojulariwho was sidelined at the start of training camp with a hamstring injury.
Oshane Ximines y Quincy Roche They are players who, according to Daballthey might have to take on larger roles with Thibodeaux outside. Jihad Ward He is also rehabbing from a minor injury and is expected to return soon.
Los Giants expect great things this season Thibodeaux, who has been working with the first-team defense since the start of the team’s organized activities in the spring. Lost time is a setback.
“Whenever you miss practice, it’s valuable practice,” he said. Daball. “You try to simulate as best you can to get live replays, but the reps that a player can get — whether he’s a rookie or a veteran — I think it helps them, it helps every unit.
“Again, KT he’s been doing everything we’ve asked him to do since he’s been here. He has been a good partner. He has worked extremely hard. Certainly wasted time. You never want to waste time, but he has the right attitude, the right approach. He’ll rehab as hard as he can, and he’ll be ready to play when he’s ready to play.”
Thibodeaux had 19 sacks in 30 career games in Oregon and entered last season as a potential No. 1 prospect in college football. If he’s not ready for the season opener against the Titans, the Giants host the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and then play against the Dallas Cowboys in “Monday Night Football” by ESPNsince MetLife Stadium.
That could potentially be the debut of NFL for Thibodeauxa primetime matchup against a divisional rival.