Kayvon Thibodeaux arrived on the Giants on the large stage as April’s No. 5 total NFL Draft choose in Las Vegas.
So it’s solely becoming that he’s anticipated to make his NFL debut below the brilliant lights of Monday Night Football towards the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
“Big games like this, whether it’s the National Championship, Super Bowl, Monday Night Football, where everybody is watching, I wouldn’t say it adds pressure to me,” Thibodeaux mentioned this week. “But if you do better, it will amplify. We’re in New York.”
Thibodeaux’s long-awaited debut has been delayed by a sprained proper MCL damage sustained on Aug. 21 in a preseason recreation towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
He’s been carrying a brace on the knee, and he’s listed as questionable formally for the primetime recreation. But all indicators pointed to the rookie from Oregon enjoying, barring some unexpected last-minute change of plans.
Thibodeaux was going full velocity in stay drills towards offensive linemen, regardless of being listed as restricted in follow. He mentioned he was in a position to “open it up” and was “definitely confident” after making “a lot of progress” in his rehab.
There is definitely an opportunity that each Thibodeaux and second-year move rusher Azeez Ojulari (proper calf) make their season debuts to bolster a protection that might be with out Leonard Williams (sprained proper MCL).
“I hope so,” head coach Brian Daboll mentioned, when requested if he had been assured they’d each play. “They’ve taken good steps. I think they are much better than they were the week before. Hopefully, they’ll have a good day here, and we’re moving in the right direction with those guys.”
Thibodeaux, 21, ought to assist a Giants move rush that has struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks with out blitzing. But he additionally demonstrated robust run protection within the preseason, and that might be an enormous enhance towards Ezekiel Elliot, Tony Pollard and the Cowboys’ floor assault.
He mentioned he hasn’t allowed the damage to frustrate him and he’s excited to indicate what he can do.
“That doesn’t really frustrate [me],” Thibodeaux mentioned. “You have to have an understanding of where you want to get to. If I tried to focus too much on the now, of course I’d be down. But just trying to focus on the future of what we have in store and what I have in store for myself.”
GIANTS GAME STATUSES
OUT: WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), CB’s Aaron Robinson (appendix), Nick McCloud (hamstring), Justin Layne (concussion). DOUBTFUL: WR Kadarius Toney (hammy), DL Leonard Williams (knee). QUESTIONABLE: edge Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee), edge Azeez Ojulari (calf).
Backup QB Tyrod Taylor was absent from Saturday’s follow as a consequence of a non-injury private motive. Both Robinsons, Toney, Williams, McCloud and Layne didn’t follow as a consequence of damage. Thibodeaux and Ojulari had been restricted. Full members included middle Jon Feliciano (shin) and safeties Dane Belton (clavicle) and Jason Pinnock (shoulder).
At about 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, after Toney was listed as uncertain on the official damage report, the Giants receiver posted a video on his Instagram video of a person yelling: “Shut yo b-tch a– up before I get to talking sh-t about you.” Every week in the past, Toney had made two posts directed at his doubters that had been shortly deleted.
COWBOYS GAMES STATUSES
OUT: QB Dak Prescott (proper thumb), G Connor McGovern (ankle), S Jayron Kearse (knee). QUESTIONABLE: LB Micah Parsons (sickness), WR Michael Gallup (knee), TE Dalton Schultz (knee), DT Quinton Bohanna (neck).
Parsons and Schultz each had been upgraded to restricted participation on Saturday for a walkthrough. Gallup was full.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com