Kayvon

Thibodeaux

It’s the fifth straight game missed by Thibodeaux. He did not practice all week, as usual. Someone should be letting Joe Schoen know about the existence of an injured reserve list any day now.

Thibodeaux remains out with his shoulder injury, and there’s a good chance he won’t return in 2025. Wilson will again be the emergency quarterback behind Jaxon Dart and Jameis Winston.

Thibodeaux’s inactivity does not come as a surprise after he was ruled out earlier in the week. It does, however, go down as a significant absence for the Giants as they set their sights on an upset win over the Patriots on Monday Night Football. The fact the team did not place the veteran pass rusher on injured reserve likely means he is nearing a return, which appears likely to come when they come back from their Week 14 bye.

He did not practice all week and is in some danger of an IR placement on Saturday. New York also ruled out veteran CB Paulson Adebo (knee), which should help open up room in the secondary for Detroit’s receivers in Week 12.

Thibodeaux missed the Giants’ Week 11 game against the Packers with a shoulder injury, and unless he can log a late-week practice this week, he’s likely out for Week 12 against the Lions. New York’s defense remains one of the league’s worst, with or without Thibodeaux. The Lions offense should make quick work out of the Giants this Sunday.

Thibodeaux was visibly in pain last weekend, so his absence is unsurprising. The Giants also ruled out his backup, OLB Chauncey Golston (neck), and listed starting DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (toe) as doubtful. Two more starters, LB Bobby Okereke (shoulder) and CB Paulson Adebo (knee) are listed as questionable. Good news for the Packers’ offense, which has been heavily scrutinized in recent weeks.

It appears as though the 24-year-old pass rusher will remain a Giant. The team picked up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option in the offseason, keeping him under contract through 2026. Thibodeaux is third on the team in quarterback pressures (25) and second in NFL sacks (2.5). Keeping him in-house allows the Giants to preserve their defensive strength.

The news comes shortly after the Giants drafted Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter, with Schoen adding, “you can’t have enough pass rushers.” Thibodeaux is now under contract through 2026. The Giants field a loaded pass-rush unit that also includes EDGE Brian Burns and DT Dexter Lawrence. Opposing passers will have a tough time staying clean on third down, or at least that’s the scenario that plays out in Schoen’s head.

Duggan hypothesizes that the Giants will pick up the option despite saying “Thibodeaux hasn’t made the impact that was expected when he was the fifth pick in the 2022 draft.” Through three seasons, Thibodeaux has 23 NFL sacks and 78 hurries. He’s been a solid EDGE player, but it’s probably fair to say he hasn’t quite lived up to being the No. 5 pick in the draft yet. The 24-year-old will look to take a step forward in 2025 next to Brian Burns.