Giants dodge a bullet with Kayvon injury
New York Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament, the team announced Monday after preliminary tests on the defensive wing’s right knee. He is expected to miss three to four weeks.
Thibodeaux’s anterior cruciate ligament and right meniscus were intact, and the Giants said they remain hopeful the first-round pick will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 11, the source told Schefter.
It’s a race against time. There are 20 days until the first Sunday of the season.
“We’re crossing our fingers,” head coach Brian Daboll revealed. “We’re hoping his rehab goes well and he can get out as soon as possible.”
Thibodeaux suffered the injury in Sunday’s preseason game against the Bengals when he was blocked downfield in the second half by Cincinnati tight end Thaddeus Moss. Thibodeaux immediately grabbed his right knee and left the field by his foot, but the former Oregon star later told reporters he was “all good.”
It was a play that Daboll later said was within the rules. However, it was rated mixed by former and current players. Former Giants offensive lineman Chris Snee told ESPN that he blocked under a player once in the preseason in his entire career. That was against Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, who confronted him after the play.
Lewis even approached Snee after the game, and explained why he doesn’t block underneath during the preseason, especially when it’s on the sideline.
Moss is in a different situation. He’s in his third pro season, trying to stay on the Bengals’ roster, and has yet to appear in a regular-season game. Daboll considered the play with Thibodeaux one of those “tough blocks” coming from the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Thibodeaux, the fifth overall draft pick in this year’s draft, was enjoying a solid summer and scored on a quarterback hurry earlier in Sunday’s matchup. He played for the first time this summer opposite outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who was sidelined at the start of training camp with a hamstring injury.
Oshane Ximines and Quincy Roche are players Daboll said may have to take on bigger roles with Thibodeaux out. Jihad Ward is also rehabbing from a minor injury and is expected to return soon.
The Giants are expecting big things this season from Thibodeaux, who has been working with the first-team defense since the start of organized team activities in the spring. The missed time poses a setback.
“Anytime you miss a practice, it’s a valuable practice,” Daboll expressed. “You try to simulate as best you can to get live reps, but the reps that a player – whether it’s a rookie or a veteran – I think it helps them, it helps every unit.
“Again, KT has done everything we’ve asked of him since he’s been here. He’s been a good teammate. He’s worked very hard. Certainly, he’s missed time. You never want to miss time, but he’s got the right attitude, the right approach. He’ll rehab as much as he can and be ready to play when he is.”
Thibodeaux had 19 catches in 30 lifetime games at Oregon and entered last season as a potential No. 1 prospect in college soccer. If he’s not ready for the season opener against the Titans, the Giants host the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and then play the Dallas Cowboys.
That could be the NFL debut for Thibodeaux, a primetime showdown against a division rival.
