Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux scores on strip sack vs. Commanders

LANDOVER, Md. -- The New York Giants got offense from their defense when rookie defensive endKayvon Thibodeaux scored off a sack early in the second quarter against the Washington Commanderson Sunday night at FedEx Field.

It was the Giants' first non-offensive score of the season and gave them a 7-3 lead with 13 minutes,10 seconds left in the second quarter.

The fifth overall pick in this year's draft out of Oregon flew off the right edge on a second-and-18 play from the Washington 10-yard line. Thibodeaux used a long arm to beat left tackle Charles Leno Jr.and hit quarterback Taylor Heinicke from behind.

The ball squirted loose toward the opposite hash and was recovered by Thibodeaux at the 1-yard line. He easily walked into the end zone for his first career score to put the Giants ahead.

It was New York's first fumble recovery for a touchdown since 2020. That one also came against Washington.

Thibodeaux also became the second rookie in the past decade with a strip-sack fumble recovery for a touchdown on the same play. He joined Leonard Floyd, who did it for the Chicago Bears in 2016.

The prime-time play came days after Thibodeaux declared himself ready for the spotlight.

"Prime-time likes me," he confidently proclaimed earlier in the week.