A Kayvon Thibodeaux injury scare overshadowed an encouraging Daniel Jones touchdown drive in Sunday night’s 25-22 preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The No. 5 overall pick had his right knee buckled on a low block by Bengals tight end Thaddeus Moss Thaddeus Moss in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Thibodeaux stayed down on the turf, grabbed his right knee and grimaced.
When the cart came out for Thibodeaux, he at least stood up and walked slowly past it to the Giants’ sideline and into the medical tent.
But when he emerged, he said a few passing words to some teammates on the sideline, then left for the locker room with a team trainer. He was officially ruled out for the rest of the game with a “knee” injury.
Thibodeaux said he’ll be OK as he left MetLife Stadium postgame. “I’ll be back,” he told us. “We good,” he said. Said he got good news already. He was walking under his own power.
Brian Daboll said he can’t definitively say that the Giants have ruled out anything severe for Thibodeaux but “I hope so,” and MRIs and further tests hopefully show that.
Davis Webb’s two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to wideout Alex Bachman lifted the Giants to a 2-0 preseason record, with one game against the Jets remaining. Edge Tomon Fox forced a Bengals fumble at the buzzer by Trenton Irwin, recovered by corner Olaijah Griffin.
Still, the scary sight of seeing Thibodeaux lying on the turf – and a second-half left knee injury to rookie linebacker Darrian Beavers – cast a shadow over the win and the biggest plus of the night: Jones’ first preseason touchdown drive.
Jones completed eight straight passes on the drive and pumped his fist as rookie running back Jashaun Corbin plunged into the end zone for a 2-yard TD run and a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Jones hit on 8-of-9 passes for 78 yards on the 11-play, 84-yard scoring drive that straddled the first and second quarters. He did it without Saquon Barkley, who didn’t play in a coach’s decision by Brian Daboll.
And Jones did it despite disappointing finishes to the Giants’ first two possessions.
The Giants’ first drive had stalled on a 4th and 1 Antonio Williams run that the Bengals stood up at Cincinnati’s 48-yard line.
Jones’ second drive had ended with an interception by Bengals safety Dax Hill on a pass that tipped off the hands of tight end Daniel Bellinger. Hill returned it to the Bengals’ 49.
But Jones responded with the help of wide receiver David Sills, his offseason training buddy making his first preseason appearance after missing the New England opener.
Sills caught three passes for 46 yards on the drive, including a beautiful 20-yard back shoulder throw and catch up the left side.
Collin Johnson, Williams (two), Bellinger and rookie Wan’Dale Robinson also caught passes. Robinson’s was a pop pass in the backfield, but it still counts.
Jones’ final stat line was a breath of fresh air even with the turnover, completing 14 of 16 passes for 116 yards and directing that touchdown drive—albeit against the Bengals’ backups.
The pass protection was good for Jones, too, despite rampant injuries up front. Max Garcia, the team’s sixth-string center, got the start with Devery Hamilton at left guard.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas played one quarter and then came out of the game in the middle of Jones’ touchdown drive. Hamilton kicked out to tackle and Will Holden entered at left guard. Holden, a tackle, then filled in as Garcia’s backup center.
Unfortunately, the Giants’ kickoff coverage team followed Corbin’s touchdown by surrendering a 73-yard return to Cincinnati’s Chris Evans. And the injuries kept piling up.
Kicker Graham Gano went down with a concussion trying to tackle Evans. Kick returner C.J. Board, who’d had a 57-yard kick return wiped out earlier by an Oshane Ximines holding penalty, fumbled the Giants’ next kickoff and then left with a rib injury.
And defensive tackle D.J. Davidson, a rookie fifth-round pick, left with a fourth quarter injury.
That means seven of the Giants’ 11 rookie draft picks have missed at least some time this preseason due to injury, including three who left Sunday’s game alone.
Tyrod Taylor replaced Jones after three series and got some work in behind parts of the first-team and second-team offensive lines. But Webb impressed with the third team, completing 22 of 27 passes for 204 yards and two scores to Bachman.
Bachman racked up 11 catches for 122 yards and two TDs.
Punter Jamie Gillan, a lefty, also made a 31-yard field goal and an extra point with Gano sidelined, with safety Julian Love holding.
So there were several positives. But the unknown of Thibodeaux’s injury loomed largest.
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Source: Berkshire mont
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