Kayvon Thibodeaux injury update: Giants avoid worst-case scenario

New York Giants fans can exhale, knowing Kayvon Thibodeaux’s injury was not a season-ender.

While Kayvon Thibodeaux’s preseason is officially in the books, New York Giants fans can let out a sigh of relief, as their first-round pick is not out for the season with a devastating knee injury.

Thibodeaux had to exit the Giants’ last preseason game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals after sustaining a chop block by tight end Thaddeus Moss. Although the hit by Moss was borderline dirty, at least Thibodeaux is not down for the count. The Giants defensive end appears to have sprained his MCL, which may sideline him for three to four weeks. He did not tear the MCL or meniscus in his knee.

New York remains optimistic that Thibodeaux could still play in Week 1 at the Tennessee Titans.

Kayvon Thibodeaux injury update: Sprained MCL, out for three to four weeks

This is about as good of news as possible. You never expect the best when it comes to knee injuries. For Thibodeaux to be lost for the year because of a preseason chop block would have been absolutely brutal. Although the Giants are picked to finish in last in the NFC East, New York looks at the former Oregon star to be a building block upon which this team will be good again.

New York also drafted former Alabama star offensive tackle Evan Neal inside of the top 10. A big reason why the Giants have been terrible over the last half-decade is not hitting on key pieces in the draft. While offensive tackle Andrew Thomas seems promising, Daniel Jones is not the guy at quarterback and they reached on an often-injured running back in Saquon Barkley the year prior.

Ultimately, it would have been a damn shame if Thibodeaux did not get to play at all in his rookie season. Immensely talented, he has the potential to be as revered by Giants fans as Harry Carson, Michael Strahan and even Lawrence Taylor were before him. If he is some version of Justin Tuck or Osi Umenyiora, then the Giants got their money’s worth by taking Thibodeaux No. 5 out of Oregon.

Even if Thibodeaux cannot play in Week 1, he should make his return to the field in September.