Wink Martindale "Keeps It Real" with Kayvon Thibodeaux

New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale expects big things from second-year outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

With good reason. After Thibodeaux, last year's fifth overall pick in the draft, bounced back from a slow start caused in part due to injury, the former Oregon Duck showed just how disruptive he could be in games, the highlight of which was his stellar showing in Week 14 against the Washington Commanders in which he posted 12 tackles (9 solos), 3 tackles for loss, 1 quarterback hit, and had a forced fumble and fumble recovery for a touchdown as part of his Defensive Player of the Week showing.

Martindale said Tuesday that he wants to see more of that from Thibodeaux, who's already started showing how much more disruptive he can be this summer.

"I thought that in Detroit, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I think he caused two fumbles and recovered two fumbles," Martindale said when asked about Thibodeaux's camp.

"I expect him to be at the top of everything, and so do we. I've talked to him about his practice. I think that he heard me clearly. I talked to him in front of the entire defense. So, Kayvon is going to be fine."

Martindale explained that he spoke to Thibodeaux in front of the entire defense as part of what he calls a "Keep It Real" moment with all his players.

"The last thing I want as a coach is for a player to drive in this parking lot and not know where they stand, especially this time of year," Martindale explained. "I think that we build our relationships and our foundation on trust and honesty. I tell them what I think, where they stand, where the competition is, and where the line is."

Thibodeaux said he didn't have any problem with Martindale's approach.

"I mean, it wasn’t anything negative. It wasn’t necessarily in a sense like ‘oh’ but I mean it’s understanding that people; for a coach talking to for example, a great player and a coach talking to a player that he sees potential in, it’s going to be different," he said.

"So, him wanting to let me know that he feels I can be a Pro Bowler this year, he feels I can kind of take the league by storm, and me knowing that him saying it, really doesn’t mean much, right? It’s about what I go do every day, and that’s kind of the conversation that we had, that I am the only one who can get me to the places that I want to be."

Thibodeaux, in fact, said MArtindale's message to him wasn't any different than what he tells himself every day.

"He’s just preaching to the choir. I am a guy who kind of preaches that stuff to myself, and I am a guy who tries to lead in that standpoint," Thibodeaux said. "So, yeah, we are talking the same language as always and just continuing to get better. I think that’s the point of camp. It’s easy when you get to practice 15, 16, 17, it starts to get complacent, it gets repetitive. Just continuing to stay fresh, continuing all that grind."

Injury Updates

Wide receiver Cole Beasley (leg) joined Tuesday's list of injured players, which consisted of offensive linemen Devery Hamilton and Tyre Phillips (leg), receiver Collin Johnson (knee), running back Gary Brightwell (ankle), linebacker Cam Brown (unknown), defensive lineman Ryder Anderson (triceps), and defensive back Nick McCloud (stomach).

Beasley missed a couple of practices earlier in camp for a lower body ailment. Head coach Brian Daboll said Beasley would also sit for the team's practice on Wednesday.

Offensive tackle Evan Neal (concussion) remains in the latter stages of the protocol (non-contact), having worked only during walks-through periods and in a red no-contact jersey. Daboll said Neal, who was dinged on August 4, is trending in the right direction.

Undrafted inside linebacker Troy Brown limped off the field with a trainer early in practice with what appeared to be an ankle issue. He was later waived/injured to make room for the team's signing of offensive tackle Julién Davenport.

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