The New York Giants shocked the world on Sunday afternoon, upsetting the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The Giants came away with a 31-24 win over the Vikings, advancing to the Divisional Round where they will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
New York rested its starters in Week 18, ensuring the squad was fully healthy for the postseason. The Giants looked energized and explosive on Sunday and came away from the game mostly unscathed. However, pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari was knocked out of the game in the first half with a quad injury. Ojulari has missed a significant amount of time with injuries this season, but he might still be able to play next week. According to Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Azeez Ojulari is “day-to-day” with a quad injury and could play in the Divisional Round.
Azeez Ojulari in “good shape” ahead of Giants’ Divisional Round vs Eagles
The Giants suffered a big loss during their Wild Card win over the Vikings on Sunday. Azeez Ojulari was knocked out of the lineup in the first half of the game with a quad injury. Ojulari’s absence was felt as the Giants’ edge rushing lacked productivity against Minnesota.
Azeez Ojulari has struggled to stay on the field all season long. He had been dealing with a calf strain in the first half of the year before suffering a sprained ankle in Week 16. Just in time for the postseason, Ojulari was healthy and ready to return to the field. But his return game was cut short with a quad injury.
“It’s just so terrible. I can’t ever finish the game. I’m so frustrated. It’s just so tough. I’m happy we won, though. Gives me another opportunity.”
Azeez Ojulari following his injury in the Wild Card Round via The New York Post
The Giants are missing one of their best defenders when Azeez is absent from the lineup. In just seven games this season, Azeez Ojulari totaled 5.5 sacks. He is incredibly productive when on the field, but has been sidelined far too often. Thankfully, however, it appears the injury Ojulari suffered against Minnesota was a minor one.
Head coach Brian Daboll described Ojulari as “day-to-day” and said the team is in “good shape” for this Saturday’s matchup with the Eagles. Even though he could not return from the injury in Sunday’s game, Azeez Ojulari could return to the lineup as early as next week. All eyes will be on the Giants’ second-year pass-rusher throughout the week as he prepares to play on Saturday.