Giants lose Andrew Thomas for the season, and that's not the only injury news this week
Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas speaks to the media during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 4. Credit: Ed Murray
The Giants will be without at least one and possibly three of their best and most indispensable players when they face the Eagles on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The team confirmed that left tackle Andrew Thomas underwent season-ending surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in his right foot in Charlotte on Wednesday morning. Thomas suffered the injury at some point in the second half of the game against the Bengals on Sunday night, and although he played the entire game he was clearly bothered by it toward the end.
Head coach Brian Daboll also said defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (hip) and linebacker Brian Burns (groin) are “day-to-day.” Neither practiced on Wednesday and their status will be monitored throughout the week.
The Giants are also without linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was placed on injured reserve last week following surgery on a fractured wrist.
Thomas, though, is the one new and definite loss for this upcoming division game. One of the best players in the league at his position, Thomas' absence also is sure to upend the chemistry that the offensive line had built throughout this season. All five of the starters in that group have played every snap of the first six weeks of the season.
“He’s a leader, he’s a captain, he’s great in the locker room, and he’s a very good football player,” Daboll said. “You can’t replace an Andrew Thomas.”
And yet – despite Daboll saying that part about not being able to replace him four times in his 10-minute media availability -- the Giants will try.
The first attempt at Wednesday’s practice was having Joshua Ezeudu, the backup left tackle throughout the season, step into Thomas’ place. Daboll, though, insisted that the Giants would look at other permutations. Those would include moving veteran right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to the left side and putting Evan Neal at right tackle where he has been practicing for the majority of this year. Neal could potentially play left tackle as well, having done it in college.
“We’ll do a few things this week,” Daboll said, “rotate guys throughout the week.” After Friday’s practice he said he hopes to have made a decision on the lineup for Sunday.
The reason for the hedging is that neither Ezeudu nor Neal instills much confidence, from the fans or the organization, as both played poorly last season. Ezeudu replaced Thomas after the left tackle hurt his hamstring in the 2023 opener, and it resulted in Daniel Jones being sacked 21 times in four games before the quarterback eventually suffered a neck injury and had to miss games himself.
Neal, the seventh-overall pick in the 2022 draft, dealt with ankle injuries late last season but his play was declining before then. He missed most of the preseason recovering from surgery and has not played at all this season.
“He’s improved,” Daboll said of Neal. “He has taken to the coaching. His attitude has been positive in the things we have asked him to do. He’s improved playing at the right tackle position with the right mindset each and every day.”
The potential replacements for Lawrence and Burns could be just as dicey for the Giants. D.J. Davidson and rookie Elijah Chatman would likely play the nose tackle spot where Lawrence has been dominant this season (7 sacks). With Azeez Ojulari already playing in place of Thibodeaux, Boogie Basham and practice-squadders Tomon Fox and Benton Whitley are the candidates to step in for Burns.
The Giants did have some good injury news. Running back Devin Singletary (groin) was a full participant on Wednesday and wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) was able to practice in a red non-contact jersey. Both have missed the past two games. Nabers remains in the protocol but Wednesday’s practice was important toward full clearance, which could come later this week.
Daboll said Nabers is feeling “much better” but added he doesn’t want to push him to play because of the nature of the injury. He still needs to have a full practice and be examined by an independent neurologist.
“I’m optimistic,” Daboll said of Nabers playing against the Eagles.
It was clearly one of the very few items in the medical reports to feel that way about.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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