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Azeez Ojulari is determined to overcome past injuries and prove his worth with the New York Giants this season.
He has hired a chiropractor to help fix his health issues and is learning from new teammate Brian Burns.
The Last Player Standing from the 2021 Draft
Azeez Ojulari is the last player from the Giants’ 2021 draft still on the team.
He is also the only player on the 90-man roster that the new general manager, Joe Schoen, didn’t bring in or re-sign.
This offseason, the Giants traded for Brian Burns, a two-time Pro Bowler, which reduced Ojulari’s role. Despite this, Ojulari is ready to prove his worth.
Overcoming Injuries and Getting Healthy
Ojulari has had a tough time with injuries, missing 16 games over the last two seasons due to problems with his calf, hip, ankle, and hamstring.
These injuries reduced his performance, with his sack count dropping from 13.5 in his first 24 games to just 2.5 last season.
To fix these issues, Ojulari hired a chiropractor to align his hips and improve his balance.
“When I’m out there, I have to produce, stay healthy and do what I can do — get to the quarterback, make TFLs [tackles for loss], make plays that I used to make,” Ojulari explained.
“My hips weren’t aligned. Stuff was off. One hip was longer than the other. When I’m doing that work consistently, it evened me out. Balance. That should help with staying on the field.”
Learning from Brian Burns and Embracing a New Role
The Giants’ trade for Brian Burns could have been bad news for Ojulari. Instead, he sees it as a chance to learn and grow.
Ojulari has admired Burns since his rookie year and wants to learn from him. Burns also has high praise for Ojulari’s talent and potential.
“When we played against Burns after the game my rookie year, I was trying to get tips from him,” Ojulari said.
“I love the way he plays the game. Now he’s on the team, so I can learn from him. Add whatever I can take from his game to my game and improve it because I’ve seen what he’s done in this league and I want to get to that level, too.”
Burns said, “It comes very, very natural to him. I think he’s very gifted. He has extremely long arms and natural leverage, so that makes him a premium pass-rusher as far as his build. He’s been doing great so far. I expect big things from him this year.”
Strengthening the Giants’ Defense
A healthy Ojulari in the rotation gives defensive coordinator Shane Bowen more options. With Ojulari, Thibodeaux, and Burns, Bowen can manage their playtime to keep them fresh or use them together for a strong pass rush.
This strategy depends on the performance of other defensive players like Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordan Phillips, Jordon Riley, and Ryder Anderson.
“I think a lot of that’s going to lean a little bit on where we’re at inside [at defensive tackle], how that competition shakes out,” Bowen said.
“You go back to [my] days in Houston, early days in Tennessee, we’ve had kind of that in-between hybrid-type player as a fourth rusher inside to help. We’ve got the ability to do that.”
Ojulari’s Drive for Redemption
Ojulari has been working hard in the offseason with yoga, sauna sessions, and other recovery methods alongside his brother BJ, also a football player.
Despite BJ’s recent injury, Azeez stays focused on making the most of his contract year.
“You can’t forget about it,” he said, “but it’s another opportunity to continue to improve one step at a time every day. Don’t look too far ahead, don’t look too far behind. That’s what I’m on right now. Keep it steady.”
With determination and better health, Ojulari is ready to play in the Giants’ defense this season.