EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – La actuación más predominante de la breve carrera de Kayvon Thibodeaux le ha valido su primera distinción en la NFL
Thibodeaux fue nombrado hoy Jugador Defensivo de la Semana de la NFC después de ser el mejor jugador en el campo durante la victoria de los Giants 20-12 del domingo por la noche en Washington.
La quinta selección general del NFL Draft de 2022, Thibodeaux logro su mejor marca y la mejor de un partido al registrar 12 tacleadas (nueve solo), incluyendo tres para pérdida. También anotó el primer touchdown de los Giants en un retorno de fumble de una yarda con 13:10 restantes en el segundo cuarto. En el segundo down y 18 por avanzar desde la línea de la yarda 10 de los Commanders, Thibodeaux tacleó a Charles Leno, Jr., marcó un sack a Taylor Heinicke para una pérdida de nueve yardas, le arrancó el balón de las manos y se abalanzó sobre él para entra en la zona de anotación y así dar a los Giants una ventaja a la ya nunca renunciaron.
View the best photos of Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 7 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, October 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) celebrates a sack during a week 7 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, October 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) celebrates a strip sack during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday October 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday October 30, 2022 in Seattle, Washington (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday October 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday October 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday October 24, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) gets introduced before before a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday October 30, 2022 in Seattle, Washington (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday October 2, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) sack Jale Hurts (1) during a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagle, Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday November 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) sack Jale Hurts (1) during a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagle, Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) sack Jale Hurts (1) during a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagle, Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) gets introduced before a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagle, Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) celebrates a strip sack during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) celebrates a strip sack during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during an week 2 NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 5 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 4 NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Monday October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a week 7 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, October 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) before a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
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La primera anotación de la carrera de Thibodeaux fue el primer touchdown defensivo de los Giants desde el 7 de noviembre de 2021, cuando Xavier McKinney interceptó un pase de Derek Carr de Las Vegas y lo devolvió 41 yardas para un touchdown.
Thibodeaux hizo otra gran jugada quedando 1:03 en el último cuarto cuando persiguió y tacleó a Heinicke en la línea de la yarda uno después de una ganancia de nueve yardas. Su esfuerzo impidió que los Commanders consiguieran un primer down justo por debajo de la línea de gol.
En tercer down y una por avanzar, Brian Robinson se abrió camino hacia la zona de anotación, pero el touchdown fue anulado por un castigo de formación ilegal. Obligado a lanzar el balón desde la yarda seis, Heinicke fue alcanzado por Azeez Ojulari y lanzó el balón para evitar un sack. El cuarto pase de Heinicke para Curtis Samuel fue incompleto, asegurando la victoria de los Giants.
A pesar de perderse los dos primeros partidos por una lesión de rodilla sufrida en la pretemporada, Thibodeaux está empatado en el tercer puesto de los Giants con 3.0 sacks y es segundo del equipo con 11 golpes al quarterback. Ha registrado 38 tacleadas (24 solo), cuatro de ellas para pérdida, además de tres pases defendidos, dos balones sueltos forzados y dos recuperaciones de balón suelto.
Thibodeaux es apenas el segundo novato entre las 51 selecciones de Jugador Defensivo de la Semana de los Giants en los 39 años de historia del premio y el primero desde la Semana 14 de la temporada 2014. El linebacker Devon Kennard fue reconocido después de conseguir dos sacks, seis tacleadas solo y forzar un balón suelto en la victoria 36-7 de los Giants en Tennessee.
El último novato de los Giants en ganar un premio al Jugador de la Semana fue el quarterback Daniel Jones después de su primer inicio en la NFL el 22 de septiembre de 2019 en Tampa Bay.
Thibodeaux es el primer jugador defensivo de los Giants en ser considerado desde que Leonard Williams fue nombrado Jugador de la Semana después de registrar 3.0 sacks contra Dallas en el final de la temporada 2020. Williams también había recibido el reconocimiento cuatro semanas antes tras una victoria en Seattle.
Los Giants han ganado cuatro premios al Jugador de la Semana esta temporada, y se han dividido entre la ofensiva, la defensiva y los equipos especiales.
Se mencionó a Saquon Barkley después de totalizar 194 yardas desde la línea de golpeo, incluyendo 164 y un touchdown por tierra, en la victoria de los Giants de la Semana 1 en Tennessee. Jones ganó el segundo premio al Jugador Ofensivo de la Semana del equipo, después de lanzar para 202 yardas y un touchdown e ir por tierra para registrar su mejor marca de 107 yardas y otra anotación en la Semana 7 en Jacksonville.
Graham Gano fue nombrado Jugador de la Semana de los Equipos Especiales tras conectar cuatro goles de campo, de 52 y 56 yardas, en la victoria contra Carolina el 18 de septiembre.
