Andrew Thomas has been absent through the first two weeks of the season, leaving the Giants’ offensive line notably shorthanded. That could change on Sunday. 
Thomas took part in practice for Weeks 1 and 2, and he has once again been on the field in recent days. That included an increased workload Wednesday, and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes there is a strong chance a return to play in time for Sunday night could take place. Head coach Brian Daboll‘s comments on the matter suggested that is the team’s expectation (h/t Dan Duggan of The Athletic).
Thomas remained on the active/PUP list until mid-August while recovering from the Lisfranc injury which cut his 2024 campaign short. The screw inserted into his foot as part of his initial surgery was removed, and as a result his recovery timeline was pushed back to an extent. Having also undergone an ankle scope this offseason, Thomas has understandably been handled with caution in terms of his return to action. Being available for New York’s upcoming game would of course be critical, though.
Replacement left tackle James Hudson struggled mightily in Week 2, drawing four penalty flags before being benched for Marcus Mbow. The latter, a fifth-round rookie, fared better upon taking on blindside duties but he would return to a backup role provided Thomas is cleared to play. Duggan notes a move to guard is unlikely in Mbow’s case given the fact he did not see any reps on the inside during training camp.
Thomas’ contract was restructured just before the start of the season. The 26-year-old remains on the books through 2029, so his long-term health will remain a priority for the team. A cautious approach has been taken to date, but a continued ramping up of his workload over the coming days would pave the way for a season debut on Sunday. The Giants will seek their first win of the campaign against a Chiefs team which also finds itself at 0-2.
