Jeff Saturday calls Kayvon Thibodeaux celebration ‘trash’ after Nick Foles injury
Tasteless’’ and “trash.’’
That is how Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday described the snow-angel celebration Kayvon Thibodeaux unveiled after sacking — and, as it turned out, injuring — quarterback Nick Foles in the second quarter of the Giants’ 38-10 playoff-clinching rout.
Saturday, speaking to reporters in Indianapolis on Monday, also said Foles is “really sore’’ with a rib injury that will keep him out of the Colts’ season-finale against the Texans.
Thibodeaux ended Foles’ afternoon with a legal and punishing blind-side sack that sent Foles to the turf. While Foles stayed down, Thibodeaux, the rookie outside linebacker, got down on his back, right next to Foles, to perform a celebratory snow angel.
“Tasteless from the celebration afterward, just trash,’’ Saturday said. “Not a fan of it at all.’’
Not long after the game, Colts center Ryan Kelly called the Thibodeaux celebration “horses–t’’ and added “Hopefully his teammates will — maybe one day he’ll learn that injuries happen in this league, you never want to happen to the guy that you’re going against.’’
With a day to reflect, Saturday — a former Pro Bowl center for the Colts — said he was disappointed that his offensive linemen did not have Foles’ back on the field and go after Thibodeaux, a rare public shot by a head coach at his players.
“Disappointed, from the O-line perspective and for teammates in general,’’ Saturday said. “We protect our own. I’m just gonna tread lightly. Obviously I didn’t like it, at all, and that’s where I’ll leave it.’’
Thibodeaux, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, in the locker room after the game said, “When I did realize he was hurt, that’s when we started getting up. When you’re doing a celebration, you’re not looking to see who’s doing what. But I hope he gets well and I hope he’s all right.’’
A day after the game, Giants coach Brian Daboll was asked about the Colts’ irritation with the Thibodeaux celebration.
“That’s a good question for Kayvon,’’ Daboll said. “I think he answered that and addressed it [Sunday]. I’m quite sure he didn’t know the player was hurt. Kayvon’s a good young man and I know he responded to questions about that [Sunday] so I’ll leave that to him.’’
When Thibodeaux got to the sideline, he turned to face the cheering crowd and put his hands to the side of his face, a “night-night’’ or “go to sleep’’ gesture — Warriors superstar Steph Curry does this after hitting a big shot at a key moment. Thibodeaux was referring to either Foles or the Colts while Foles was still getting checked out by medical personnel. The Giants led 21-3 at the time.
Foles eventually got to his feet and walked off the field. He was replaced by Sam Ehlinger, whom Saturday said will start the final game of the season for the Colts, who are 4-11-1.
