NFL.com names Kayvon Thibodeaux among top DROY candidates

Prior to Wednesday's practice, head coach Brian Daboll shared with the media that Giants rookie linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux would be a full-go for the start of training camp.

This came as good news for the Giants after the rookie was forced to miss some time in the spring due to an injury.

This week, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein ranked his top 10 candidates to take home the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, and the fifth overall pick landed at No. 3.

Zierlein wrote, "Thibodeaux is strong and explosive with pretty good insight into the art of the pass rush. However, he has to show he can execute as a pass rusher on a consistent basis in the NFL. His ability to close to the sideline should make him tough to run against, but sacks are what win this award."

Thibodeaux enjoyed plenty of success while playing his college ball at Oregon.

His 19 sacks across three seasons with the Ducks helped lead him to being one of the first few players selected in this year's draft. Thibodeaux also registered 34.5 total tackles for loss, the fifth-most among Power 5 players since 2019.

He earned a 91.5 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus in 2021 after recording seven sacks, 28 hurries and 48 total quarterback pressures in 11 games.

Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll on vision for 2022 Giants

It's understandable for NFL fans to muse about how the story of the 2022 Giants will ultimately read, but right now the team's hierarchy is focused only on chapter one.

General manager Joe Schoen made that clear Wednesday morning when he was asked what Daniel Jones must do to prove he is the team's long-term quarterback.

"Really just coming out and executing the offense is what we're looking to do," Schoen said. "You know, getting better each day. And that goes for the entire position group, Tyrod (Taylor) and Davis Webb, as well."

Coach Brian Daboll is also focused on the here and now and not season-long projections.

"I learned a long time ago you have to take care of today," Daboll said. "Being in the league for 20-plus years, there's teams that people thought that were going to go all the way and didn't make the playoffs. And there's teams that people thought they weren't going to. And what we try to focus on is getting better each day, like Joe said. Focusing on the things that we can do, and we control, which is going out there, having good meetings, having a good practice, trying to string good days together. And that's really where our focus is going to be."

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Blake Martinez returns to practice, eyes Week 1

Blake Martinez had long since settled into the routines and rhythms of an NFL season. The 2021 season was his sixth in the league and second with the Giants and the standout inside linebacker was contented in the weekly schedule of meetings, practices and games.

When the Giants hosted the Atlanta Falcons last Sept. 26, Martinez played in his 75th consecutive game, including regular season and postseason contests.

But Martinez was forced from his comfort zone that afternoon. On the sixth play of the game, he suffered a torn ACL, ending his season. After undergoing surgery, Martinez watched some Giants games on television.

"It was so weird," Martinez said Wednesday. "I felt like I was one of those fans just yelling at the TV and all that stuff. And I'm like, 'Damn, I wish I could be out there, and I wish I could help out and say something right now.' But all I could do was yell at this little square thing."

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