TRANSACTIONS:
Originally a 1st round (32nd pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2006.
GIANTS NOTE:
- Made a successful transition from defensive end to linebacker in 2007 before being placed in injured reserve after suffering a broke left fibula in the 10th game of the season at Detroit (11/18)
- Kiwanuka started 9 games in 2006, the most by a Giants rookie defensive end since Fred Dryer started 14 games in 1969.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Has played in 26 regular season games with 19 starts – 16 games with 9 starts at defensive end and 10 starts at strongside linebacker. Kiwanuka has also started 1 postseason game at defensive end. In 2 seasons, he has 102 tackles (65 solo), 8.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles.
- In 2007, he won the starting strongside linebacker after spending the entire offseason learning the new position following a rookie year spent at defensive end.
- Started all 10 games in which he played and finished the season with 47 tackles (24 solo), 4.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB hurry and 6 QB hits.
- Finished with 4 tackles (1 solo) 1.5 sacks and 1 QB hit at Washington (9/23). Also forced a fumble that was recovered by Antonio Pierce.
- Had 7 tackles (4 solo) and a career-high 3 sacks vs. Philadelphia (9/30). Dropped Donovan McNabb for losses of 3 and 1 yards in the 3rd quarter…Record his 3rd and final sack of the game when he dropped McNabb for a 2-yard loss in the 4th quarter…Contributed to a defense that set a team record with 12 sacks, easily breaking the previous Giants record of 9 sacks.
- Kiwanuka’s season ended at Detroit (11/18) when he suffered a fractured left fibula on the game’s second play from scrimmage. He was placed on injured reserve the following day.
- Put together an impressive rookie campaign in 2006, when he played in all 16 regular season games with 9 starts…Also started the NFC Wild Card Game at Philadelphia (1/7)…Finished the season with 55 tackles (41 solo), 23 QB hurries (2nd on the team), 16 QB hits (1st), 4 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.
- Took over at right end at Dallas (10/23) after Osi Umenyiora left the game with a hip flexor strain in the 3rd quarter. Finished with 2 quarterback hits…Pressure and hit on Tony Romo in the 4th quarter forced a bad throw that was intercepted by Fred Robbins.
- Made his 1st career start vs. Tampa Bay (10/29) at right defensive end and finished with 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack and a forced fumble…Recorded his 1st career sack when he dropped Bruce Gradkowski for a 5-yard loss. Also forced a fumble in the 2nd quarter…Tackled Carnell Williams for a 1-yard loss in the 1st quarter.
- Started at right defensive end and finished with 7 solo tackles and a sack vs. Houston (11/5)…Recorded his 2nd sack when he stopped David Carr for a 6-yard loss in the 4th quarter…On the next play, tackled Wali Lundy for a 1-yard loss.
- Started at right defensive end vs. Chicago (11/12), and finished with 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 quarterback hurries and 1 interception…Picked off a Rex Grossman pass intended for Rashied Davis for his 1st career interception and returned it 32 yards to set up Brandon Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown run.
- Started at left defensive end vs. Dallas (12/3), and finished with 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 interception, a pass defensed and a forced fumble…Intercepted his 2nd pass of the season when he caught a tipped throw from Romo. Returned the interception 12 yards before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Dallas WR Sam Hurd…His 2-yard sack and forced fumble of Romo in the 2nd quarter was his 3rd of the season…Tackled Julius Jones for a 3-yard loss in the 4th quarter…Stuffed Marion Barber for no gain in the 4th quarter.
- Started at left defensive end at Carolina (12/10) and had 4 tackles (2 solo) 1 sack, 2 QB hurries and 2 QB hits…Recorded his 4th sack of the season when he dropped Chris Weinke at the line of scrimmage in the 4th quarter.
- Started in the NFC Wild Card game at Philadelphia (1/7/07) and finished with a team-high 7 tackles (5 solo).
