The New York Giants have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks, and unfortunately, their tough luck continued this past weekend. Another key player, young pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, is now sidelined with a toe injury sustained during the team’s Week 12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With his placement on injured reserve (IR), Ojulari will be required to miss at least four games. Given that the Giants have just six games remaining in the season, there’s a possibility that this injury could mark the end of Ojulari’s time with the team.
This latest setback makes the Giants’ decision at the trade deadline look even more questionable. Leading up to the deadline, the team seriously considered trading Ojulari, but ultimately, they decided not to move him. The reasoning was that they did not receive an offer that they believed was worth parting ways with the talented pass rusher. However, in hindsight, this decision seems flawed, especially considering the circumstances.
Ojulari is in the final year of his contract, meaning that once the season ends, he will be a free agent and the Giants will have no control over whether or not he stays in New York. If the Giants fail to re-sign him, they’ll get nothing in return for a player they could have traded away. While there’s still a possibility the team could offer him a new contract in the offseason, they will be competing with other teams that could be just as interested in securing his services.
Ojulari was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and this season, he has been one of the more consistent performers on defense. Through 11 games, he has recorded 28 tackles, six sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery. His production has shown his potential, but the injury and contract situation now put the Giants in a tough spot moving forward.