As the New York Giants gear up for their Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, they’ll once again be without one of their top defensive playmakers-Kayvon Thibodeaux. The outside linebacker will remain sidelined from practice on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury that’s kept him off the field since Week 10.
That marks four straight games missed for Thibodeaux, who had been a disruptive force off the edge before the injury. While his absence has certainly been felt, interim head coach Mike Kafka remains optimistic.
Despite only three games left in the regular season, Kafka reiterated that the team still expects Thibodeaux to return to action before the year wraps up. It’s a sign the Giants haven’t shut the door on his season just yet.
Thibodeaux isn’t the only player nursing injuries this week. The Giants’ latest injury report includes a handful of key contributors who also won’t be practicing on Wednesday:
- WR Beaux Collins (Neck)
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Neck/Knee)
- **DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. ** (Ankle)
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Shoulder)
That’s a tough list for a team still trying to find consistency down the stretch. But there was some good news on the injury front, particularly in the return game.
Gunner Olszewski, who missed Sunday’s win over the Commanders after taking a helmet-to-helmet shot on a kickoff return in Week 13, has officially cleared concussion protocol. The veteran return man is expected to be back at practice this week, giving the Giants a boost in field position and special teams stability heading into Sunday.
Meanwhile, punter Jamie Gillan, who sat out last week with a left knee injury, is also set to return to practice. His availability for the Vikings game is still up in the air, but getting him back on the field-even in a limited capacity-is a step in the right direction.
One name that continues to linger on the sidelines is Evan Neal. The Giants opened his 21-day practice window on Tuesday, a procedural move that allows the offensive lineman to return from injured reserve. Neal has been sidelined all season with a hamstring injury, and while the window is open, Kafka made it clear there are no current plans to get him on the field for the final three games.
Neal, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, hasn’t played a snap this season and is expected to hit free agency in the offseason. His situation adds another layer to the Giants’ offseason decisions, especially along the offensive line.
So as Week 16 approaches, the Giants are still dealing with a fair share of injury uncertainty. But the return of Olszewski and potential progress from Gillan offer some encouraging signs. And while Thibodeaux remains out for now, the door is still open for a late-season return-which could be a much-needed spark for a defense that’s been grinding without one of its top pass rushers.