Giants Azeez Ojulari turns in electric performance in place of injured Kayvon Thibodeaux

Opportunity knocked and Azeez Ojulari answered.In his first start and most extensive action of the season, Ojulari notched four tackles and two sacks (and should’ve added a third) Sunday night in the Giants’ first game since starting outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux underwent wrist surgery and landed on injured reserve.But it wasn’t enough to prevent the Giants from losing, 17-7, to the Bengals at MetLife Stadium.“I thought Azeez was electric,” linebacker Bobby Okereke.“We all have a lot of faith in Azeez, and his pass-rush ability is very strong.

We have a next-man-up mentality at every position, and Azeez just fulfilled that.”Ojulari had the right approach to the offseason decision to replace him as the starter opposite Thibodeaux with prize trade acquisition Brian Burns.Instead of angrily demanding a trade or sulking his way to regression in the final year of his contract, Ojulari tried to find ways to stay healthy, learn tricks from the two-time Pro Bowler Burns and prove that he still is capable of being as productive as he was early in his career before a slew of injuries mounted.Both of Ojulari’s sacks came on the Bengals’ final drive of the first half, when only two first downs would’ve set up a reasonable field-goal attempt.He also crashed into running back Zack Moss on a potentially points-saving play when Okereke stripped the ball and Micah McFadden recovered a fumble.“I tried to come in, execute the game plan to the best of my ability and help us win,” Ojulari said.

“But we fell short.Left a lot of plays out there, for sure.”Before either of his sacks, Ojulari went for a strip sack but lost his footing and his hold on Joe Burrow, who slipped away to throw an incompletion.“Burrow is elusive,” Ojulari said.

“When you get there, you have to really get him down.”Ojulari was averaging a career-low 23 defensive snaps over the first five games compared to Thibodeaux’s 48 and Burns’ 52.Various calf, hip, ankle and ...