New York Giants stalwart left tackle Andrew Thomas is expected to miss extended time with a foot injury, and there are concerns the injury could be season-ending, a team source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.
Thomas injured his foot on the Giants’ sole touchdown drive in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite staying in the game, Thomas appeared to struggle.
It’s a brutal blow for Thomas, who was injured in last season’s opener and missed seven games, which helped set up the Giants for a dismal season of offensive line play en route to surrendering the second-most sacks in NFL history (85).
After an offseason of change with a new position coach in Carmen Bricillo and a focus on the group in free agency, the Giants seemed to have it figured out to start this year. All five starters played 100 percent of the snaps together through the season’s first six games, setting up a consistent group that was building chemistry. While the group might not be considered the top of the league, it was at least not a talking point like it had been last year.
Now, Evan Neal and Josh Ezeudu are the in-house options to plug in at the position. The big question will be if the Giants move current right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor over to left tackle and plug in one or the other at right tackle. Neal missed extended time due to offseason ankle surgery and rehab, giving Ezeudu the apparent edge. During Sunday’s game, Ezeudu looked to be warming up on the sidelines while Thomas was getting attention from training staff, but Thomas remained in the game.
In July 2023, Thomas signed a five-year, $117.5 extension with two years left on his rookie contract. The All-Pro tackle emphasized “security” when it came to getting the deal done early.
“I would say security was the biggest thing, guarantees, things like that,” Thomas said at the time. “Especially with my history of ankle injuries and things of that nature. Playing offensive line, (there’s) people falling on you every game, you want to be secure. You don’t hope for injuries, but we know that’s a thing that happens in this league.”
The Giants next play Sunday at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
(Photo: Lucas Boland/Imagn Images)
