Azeez Ojulari missed the past four games with an ankle sprain, but is expected to return for Sunday’s game at Dallas. If that happens, the Giants’ third-year linebacker could be an asset against the Cowboys.
But the key will be keeping Ojulari on the field.
He has appeared in just three games this season, sidelined with a sprained ankle and a hamstring injury.
And last year, the 23-year-old second-round pick played in just seven games after appearing in all 17 games as a rookie in 2021.
Ojulari said after Friday’s practice, where he was listed as questionable, that it was “tough,” but he said he would be ready Sunday.
“When something happens, you have to bounce back,” Ojulari said. “I have to keep pushing and keep moving forward.”
The most important thing is to stay healthy.
“I have to play these eight games and make the most of every opportunity and make the most of it,” Ojulari said.
What are his goals in those eight games?
“Be disruptive,” Ojulari said. “Please be who you are.”
When Ojulari played, he lived up to expectations.
In his first season out of Georgia, he played in all 17 games and led the team with eight sacks.
Last season, Ojulari had four straight games at the end of the year with at least a partial sack in each game.
But this year, he hasn’t been able to find his way to quarterback. That’s certainly due in part to the fact that he was often sidelined with injury.
Ojulari appeared in the opening game, missed the next two weeks with a hamstring injury, returned for two weeks, but was injured again in the second game against the Dolphins.
Given his injury history, the Giants want to keep him off injured reserve for the rest of the season, so it’s questionable how much he’ll do against the Cowboys. Of course you think so.
He said Friday that he is wearing special shoes designed to strengthen his calves and ankles, which he hopes will help him avoid further foot injuries.
While Ojulari has struggled with health issues, Kayvon Thibodeau has emerged as a force this season and has proven to be a very durable pass rusher.
The defensive end has played in 89 percent of the Giants’ defensive plays this season and has 8.5 sacks in nine games.
As a rookie last season, he had just four hits in 14 games.
Drew Wilkins, the team’s outside linebackers coach, said Friday that the team isn’t concerned about the spike in Thibodeau’s play totals, saying, “We hope he can continue to play at a high level and do that.” If so, we would definitely like to have him participate.” It’s there in every snap. ”
But Ojulari’s presence, if he is still an effective pass rusher, will definitely take pressure off Thibodeau, who is also without Leonard Williams since he was traded to the Seahawks. It will help you.
Having Ojulari back should help, but it will be up to Ojulari to prove he can be “disruptive” for a longer period of time than he has been the past two seasons. That’s because he wasn’t drafted by the current Giants system. And they have yet to see him become a full year force.
“It was tough for me,” Ojulari said. “So, I would like to participate whenever I have the opportunity.”
