Kayvon Thibodeaux's second preseason game ended prematurely Sunday night due to injury.
The New York Giants rookie was ruled out after suffering a knee injury early in the second quarter of Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thibodeaux, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft, was preparing to tackle Bengals runner Chris Evans, when he was hit low by tight end Thaddeus Moss. Thibodeaux's right knee bent inward, and the 21-year-old went to the turf. The defensive lineman was attended to by trainers, walked off the field under his own power and was taken to the medical tent before finally heading to the locker room.
There's initial optimism in New York that Thibodeaux avoided a major injury, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. Giants coach Brian Daboll had no update on Thibodeaux after the game, telling reporters that he'd undergo tests on Monday.
"I think it's a scare any time," Daboll said of his reaction to Thibodeaux's injury. "These players work as hard as they can possibly work to try to do as well as they can, and any time you see someone on the turf, regardless of how they got here, it's always hard as a coach to watch a guy go down."
As for the defensive end himself, Thibodeaux sounded optimistic after the game, telling the New York Daily News, "I'll be back. ... We good."
Before exiting due to injury, Thibodeaux started and played 15 snaps, logging one tackle. The rookie out of Oregon played 14 snaps in New York's preseason opener.
