New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has provided an update on the fitness of rookie outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The 21-year-old out of Oregon was just one of eleven players taken by the New York Giants during the 2022 NFL Draft, with the team using the first of their 1st round picks on him at #5, before taking offensive tackle Evan Neal out of Alabama at #7.
The Giants are looking for a reversal in their recent fortunes, having not had a winning season since 2016, going 4-13 in 2021, which is what allowed them to draft so highly in the draft in the first place.
The message was pretty clear with their first two picks, get the opposing quarterback and protect their own quarterback Daniel Jones as he heads into a pretty crucial season in his career after the Giants decided not to take up his 5th-year rookie option, leaving him vulnerable to being released next summer.
But when it comes to getting the opposing quarterback, there werenât many that did it better than Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux brings the terror
During his three-year college career, he racked up 19 sacks for the Oregon Ducks, but it wasnât just quarterbacks that he was keen to bring down, as he also had a combined 126 tackles, 35.5 of which were for loss whilst also batting down 7 passes and forcing 3 fumbles:Â
All of which makes you think that he could go on to have a very successful career in the NFL if heâs able to replicate those sorts of numbers.
But his preparation time for his inaugural season is suffering something of a setback as he nurses an injury thatâs forcing him to wear the red âno contactâ jersey.
Whatâs the latest on him?
Speaking in a recent press conference during OTAs, Giants head coach Brian Daboll was asked whether or not heâd be back in time for training camp, and he wasnât exactly 100% committed either way with his response:Â
Footage from ESPN reporter Jordan Raanan showed Thibodeaux taking part in some exercises, so whatever injury he has, itâs not as if itâs keeping him away from the team facility:
Although just how much itâs going to impact him heading into his rookie season, not having a full runup to get ready, weâll just have to wait and see.