The Giants will be shorthanded in the edge rush department when they begin the season against the Titans this afternoon. Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux is among the team’s inactives (Twitter link via Dan Salomone of the team’s website).
The No. 5 pick in this year’s draft, Thibodeaux suffered an MCL sprain during the preseason, which came with a recovery timeline of at least three weeks. That made a Week 1 debut possible, but it was always more likely that the Giants would tread carefully with their highly-touted rookie.
The Oregon product was considered a candidate to fall down the board at times during the pre-draft process, but was the third edge rusher to hear his name called. His final season with the Ducks took him out of the conversation to go No. 1 overall, but the Giants were pleased to land the 6-5, 250-pounder and envision a versatile role for him. New York ranked 22nd last season in sacks, and Thibodeaux will likely go a long way in determining whether or not the team can improve in 2022.
Fellow projected starter Azeez Ojulari will also be sidelined, as had been expected in the build-up to today’s game. The 2021 second-rounder had a productive rookie campaign with eight sacks and 49 total stops, so his absence will be exacerbated by that of Thibodeaux and, to a lesser extent, fellow rookie Darrian Beavers. The Giants have Oshane Ximines, Tomon Fox and practice squad elevation Quincy Roche to lead their pass rush.
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