Azeez Ojulari Reveals How He Hopes to Avoid Injury Bug

Perhaps no one was more frustrated about New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari's injury woes than Ojulari himself.

So Ojulari, who appeared in just seven games last season with five starts, decided to do something about it to stay on the field this year. And that something, he revealed after Friday's practice, is more stretching and yoga to help keep him limber.

The idea, he said, came from teammates and people he spoke to who recommended the stretching. And so far, so good for Ojulari, who is entering his third season intending to have a big year.

"Yeah, it’s very exciting because we work so hard," Ojulari said. "Every day at practice, we push each other; we battle. We just want to be great. You can see the potential when we're out there practicing, and we just want to make sure we're all ready to go and fight and win."

Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale would love for nothing better than to have Ojualri's pass-rushing prowess in the lineup every week.

"He truly played in five or six games?" Martindale said. "I think he averaged a sack a game so that’s the layup. He’s a pure pash rusher. He’s fun to watch."

Indeed, as Ojualri's 5.5 sacks were second on the team, behind defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's 7.5 sacks

The linebacker told Giants Country that while his weight stayed the same as last year, he made one small change to his workout routine besides the yoga and stretching in that he went down a weightlifting group.

Ojulari, remember, came to camp last year significantly bulked up, something he hinted was an unplanned result of his quest to get stronger.

"I was just working out in off-season, just grinding," he said. "I just got bigger physique-wise--you know, arms and a little stronger."

Ojulari didn't think the added muscle was to blame for his soft tissue woes, but still, the addition of the flexibility work and his dropping down one group in the weightlifting area are all signs that he wants to stay healthy.

Ojulari chuckled when told of former Giants linebacker turned broadcaster Carl Banks' prediction of "a minimum" of 15 sacks being within the young man's reach.

Ojulari, who had 5.5 sacks in seven games last year, would have been on pace for about 13.5 sacks had he stayed healthy.

"I don't even try to look at the numbers. At the end of the day, I just want to win and help my team be the best," he said. "When I'm out on the field, (I) just try to be the best I can. Whatever it is, just make plays happen, just try, whatever it is, to help the team win and the defense get better."

"Definitely. It's very exciting to be out here and practice with my teammates and just be available for my team. Just out there working hard every day, just trying to get better," he said.