Andrew Thomas

Giants Expect LT Andrew Thomas To Play In Week 3

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.

Giants Restructure LT Andrew Thomas’ Deal

For the second year in a row, the Giants have restructured Andrew Thomas‘ contract. Another reworking has taken place just before the start of the season, ESPN’s Field Yates notes.

New York entered Thursday with roughly $2.5MM in cap space, so a move such as this was necessary to create financial breathing room for the campaign. Today’s restructure will free up $12.2MM in 2025 cap space since it is a maximum conversion of base salary to signing bonus. Thomas will see his cap charges increase by $3.05MM over the four remaining years on his pact (h/t ESPN’s Yates’ colleague Jordan Raanan).

[RELATED: Reviewing Giants’ Offseason]

The 26-year-old’s health has been a talking point throughout the offseason. Thomas was limited to six games last season due to a Lisfranc injury, one which required a screw to be inserted into his foot. The screw has since been removed, something which caused a slight delay in his rehab process. Thomas also underwent an ankle scope this offseason, and his Week 1 availability is uncertain.

The Georgia product was on the PUP list until mid-August, so he has seen limited reps in practice since being activated. Thomas did not participate in the preseason, something which would of course generally be the case with healthy players of his stature. Still, his small summer workload means it remains to be seen if he will be able to suit up in time for Sunday’s game against the Commanders.

James Hudson may be called into action on the blindside as a result, but even if so Thomas will be counted to remain an anchor up front for the Giants once he is fully cleared. The latter is on the books through 2029 thanks to his $23.5MM-per-year extension inked during the 2023 offseason. Thomas managing to stay healthy over the coming years would be critical for New York’s offense. The team is confident in the chances of that taking place, something demonstrated in part by the decision to rework his pact once again.

NFL Injury Updates: Thomas, Colson, Otton

The Giants activated left tackle Andrew Thomas from the active/physically unable to perform list earlier in the month, and it was quite a journey to get him to that point. Thomas was working his way back from a Lisfranc injury that ended his 2024 campaign after only six weeks of play.

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Thomas’ recovery timeline hit a bump when he underwent another surgery in April to have a screw removed from his foot. The screw had been put in as part of the initial October operation, and the doctors had informed him at the time that there was a 50-50 chance the screw would need to be removed. The screw reportedly was causing Thomas discomfort, so the second operation was performed, delaying his return just a bit.

Thomas also underwent a scope of his other ankle that was planned long before the screw removal in order to remove some scar tissue. That ankle is back to full health now, and Thomas will continue working his way back to 100 percent as the regular season approaches.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • In final roster cuts, the Chargers placed linebacker Junior Colson on season-ending injured reserve. No information was given on the injury, as teams don’t submit injury reports until the regular season, but per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, head coach Jim Harbaugh disclosed that Colson had undergone season-ending shoulder surgery. It’s a disappointing outcome for the second-year player out of Michigan.
  • Lastly, the litany of injuries to pass catchers in Tampa Bay may extend to the tight ends room. According to Buccaneers staff writer/reporter Brianna Dix, tight end Cade Otton could end up missing regular season time with a leg injury. Otton missed most of training camp because of a hamstring injury but returned in the closing days of the preseason. Now, the leg injury has held him out of the team’s last two practices and could indicate that he may be unavailable for some portion of the regular season.

Giants Activate LT Andrew Thomas

Sidelined to date through training camp, Andrew Thomas is now cleared to practice. The Giants’ left tackle was activated from the active/PUP list on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

An October 2024 Lisfranc injury limited Thomas to just six games last season and set him up for a lengthy rehab process. A return to full health in time for Week 1 remained the target, though. When speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Brian Daboll said (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post) today had long been the expected activation date in Thomas’ case.

Given the timing of this move, the 26-year-old will have time to ramp up in advance of the regular season. Thomas is entering his sixth campaign in New York, each of which have been spent as the team’s starter on the blind side. Considering the term remaining (five years) on his $23.5MM-per-year extension, a full season would be critical for team and player.

Thomas had been trending in this direction, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Though, he has missed substantial practice work while recovering from an injury sustained in Week 6 of last season. The Giants had seen some stumbling blocks form during the All-Pro’s recovery, but they had not wavered in confidence he would be ready to start the season. Thomas did stop short (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) of proclaiming he will start the season on time. That still seems likely, given the timing of this activation.

Chosen fourth overall in 2020, Thomas has proven to be the Giants’ best O-lineman by a wide margin. The team may well, should Evan Neal‘s bid to unseat Greg Van Roten at right guard fail, start the same O-line it did to open last season. That is certainly an atypical path after a 3-14 season, but having Thomas available again changes the equation.

The Giants are also expected to have Malik Nabers ready to roll to open the season, but injury trouble continues to slow the promising wide receiver. After a lingering toe problem kept Nabers on the shelf alongside Thomas during the Giants’ offseason program, he missed nearly two weeks of camp due to what is being classified as a minor back injury, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes. While a source informed Raanan Nabers is experiencing “normal camp tightness,” a two-week absence is a bit concerning regardless. Nabers returned to work Tuesday but has missed most of the Giants’ 2025 practices.

Nabers is certainly not the only NFL regular likely to miss his team’s full preseason slate, but his light participation since last season ended obviously differs from most players’ schedules. A shoulder issue also sidelined Nabers early during training camp, limiting his work with new QB Russell Wilson and eventual replacement Jaxson Dart.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Giants Expect Andrew Thomas For Week 1; No Restrictions For Malik Nabers

Andrew Thomas went down with a Lisfranc injury in mid-October and did not participate in the Giants’ offseason program. The All-Pro tackle has now begun training camp on the active/PUP list. While that is a camp-only designation that does not prevent Thomas from participating in regular-season games, his rehab continues.

That said, Brian Daboll did not confirm at minicamp Thomas would be ready for training camp. The fourth-year Giants HC now is offering a positive update on his top offensive lineman. Daboll expects (via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz) Thomas to be ready by Week 1. That would be a welcome development for a Giants O-line counting on its anchor, a player who has missed much of the past two seasons.

[RELATED: Recapping Giants’ 2025 Offseason]

Thomas, who saw a nagging hamstring injury sideline him for seven games in 2023, opted for surgery after the Lisfranc issue surfaced last year. He missed 11 more contests, not giving the Giants a good early return on their summer 2023 extension. Initial expectations for Thomas pointed to a return to full strength by OTAs. The adjusted timetable keyed a more cautious approach, one that produced a revised buildup during the offseason program and a return during camp.

Alarm bells would blare if Thomas cannot resurface at some point during camp, but for now, the Giants are not sounding them. Until Thomas comes back, free agency addition James Hudson is in place as the Giants’ first-string left tackle.

The other significant injury situation in New York has involved Malik Nabers, but the team has its No. 1 wide receiver ready to go. Nabers did not participate in the Giants’ offseason program due to a toe injury. When the Giants opened training camp, though, Daboll confirmed (via Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) the former first-round pick has no restrictions.

Nabers’ injury dates back to his time at LSU, but it has not caused him to miss a game in college or the NFL. The LSU product did indicate an eventual surgery could be necessary, via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, but he is at work as Russell Wilson prepares to hold off Jaxson Dart this year. (Daboll reiterated Tuesday, via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, that Wilson is the Giants’ unchallenged starter at camp’s outset.) Wilson said this offseason Nabers helped attract him to New York; it will be interesting to see how long this partnership lasts, as Dart’s debut will be a regular talking point.

Rounding out some Giants injury news, left guard Jon Runyan Jr.‘s rehab work was not confined to the ankle issues that required surgery. The 2024 free agency addition also underwent a shoulder procedure, Duggan notes. Runyan suffered a separated shoulder during training camp last year but played through it. Two seasons remain on Runyan’s three-year, $30MM contract.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/25

With training camps kicking off around the NFL, teams continue to make adjustments to their rosters. Here are today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: DT Dante Barnett
  • Placed on active/NFI: RB Zack Moss

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: K Mark McNamee

Houston Texans

  • Waived: CB Keydrain Calligan

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Waived: OT Savion Washington

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Waived: OT Obinna Eze

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Giants LT Andrew Thomas Tied To Lengthy Return Timetable

Andrew Thomas‘ injury trouble has hamstrung the Giants’ offensive line over the past two seasons. Since signing a big-ticket extension in summer 2023, Thomas has missed 18 games.

The latest batch of absences came as a result of a Lisfranc injury the former second-team All-Pro suffered in October. Thomas underwent surgery to repair the issue, ending his season, but this recovery timetable looks to have been delayed.

Initial expectations for Thomas pointed to a return to full strength by OTAs, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard, but the sixth-year blocker has not participated in the Giants’ offseason program. However, the team does not appear too worried about this hold-up. Adjusted expectations have led to a cautious approach, Leonard adds, one that produced a revised timetable for a buildup during the offseason program and a return in training camp.

Brian Daboll did not, however, confirm Thomas would be ready by the start of camp. Considering the injury occurred in Week 6 last season, it would be a key storyline were Thomas not ready to go next month. The Giants not viewing their top O-lineman as ready would lead to a stay on the active/PUP list to start camp. Thus far, no signs indicating Thomas would need to miss regular-season time have emerged. But the Giants have seen the former top-five pick’s injury trouble intervene on a few occasions.

Thomas has also endured setbacks while recovering from a previous injury. He needed to restart hamstring rehab after a setback occurred during an early-season recovery in 2023. That hiccup led to Thomas missing seven games. This came after the Georgia alum needed two ankle surgeries earlier in his career.

The Giants then allowed the second-most sacks in a season (85) since team sacks-allowed data had been charted in the early 1960s. Although the team gave Jon Runyan Jr. a $10MM-per-year deal in free agency in 2024, its other O-line pillars have not stepped up. Evan Neal has proven to be a bust, and has since been shifted to guard in a last-ditch effort to salvage value, while 2023 second-round center John Michael Schmitz has not panned out yet. This has highlighted Thomas’ injury trouble, as Pro Football Focus ranked last year’s Giants O-line 23rd as a group.

Big Blue has used James Hudson as the first-string tackle during the offseason program, Leonard adds. The Giants gave Hudson a two-year, $12MM deal to be their swing tackle. That certainly represents upper-crust backup money for an O-lineman, but after Thomas’ past two seasons, such a move was probably necessary. The team also drafted Purdue’s Marcus Mbow in Round 5, using the former Big Ten standout — who drew guard buzz during the pre-draft process — at both tackle spots during the offseason program. While insurance measures are in place, the Giants’ viability as a reliable O-line — in a season that will likely feature some Jaxson Dart starts — hinges on Thomas’ return.

Giants LT Andrew Thomas Out For Season

4:19pm: The Giants have since placed Thomas on IR, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Regarding a replacement plan, Ezeudu will indeed have the first chance. No firm plan appears to exist, but the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz indicates Ezeudu worked as the team’s first-string LT in practice while Eluemunor remained at RT.

9:12am: After playing through a significant foot injury to close out the Giants’ Sunday-night matchup, Andrew Thomas has opted for surgery. As a result, the talented left tackle is not expected to return in 2024.

Thomas suffered a Lisfranc injury, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the fifth-year blocker’s Charlotte trip has led to a surgery. This procedure will force the Giants into other options, removing an otherwise healthy unit’s best player. The Giants feared this outcome, and they will now be faced with playing 11 games without an All-Pro blocker.

Sustaining the injury during a third-quarter drive, Thomas did not miss a snap during the Giants’ loss to the Bengals. He indicated an issue postgame, however, and the Giants will need to regroup after seeing their Thomas-Jon Runyan Jr..-John Michael SchmitzGreg Van RotenJermaine Eluemunor line not miss any snaps this season. Although the Giants’ line is much healthier than it was at this point last year, Thomas’ injury deals a crushing blow to the unit.

Thomas, 25, signed a five-year, $117.5MM extension just before training camp last year. He joined Dexter Lawrence and Daniel Jones as Dave Gettleman-era acquisitions paid during the Joe Schoen GM regime. While Lawrence has become one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles, Jones and Thomas have run into steady injury issues that have slowed them. This is Thomas’ most notable injury as a pro, and it both casts doubt about his long-term durability and the capability of New York’s O-line moving forward this season.

Last season, a hamstring injury sidelined Thomas — a second-team All-Pro in 2022 — for seven games. An earlier return was expected, but the former No. 4 overall pick sustained a setback during his rehab process. Thomas has also undergone two ankle surgeries previously, though he only missed three games due to injury prior to last last season. The Giants will hope for a smooth recovery, but by season’s end, they will have seen the standout Georgia product miss 18 games since signing his extension.

The Giants used Joshua Ezeudu as Thomas’ primary replacement last season, and the 2022 third-round pick — a converted guard — has been the team’s swingman this year. New York initially turned to Ezeudu when Evan Neal was in place at right tackle. Neal has been a healthy scratch this season, seeing poor play and extensive rehab sidetrack his career. The Giants have installed Eluemunor at RT; the recent Raiders starter was initially set to play left guard on a first-string line including Neal. The Giants changed that plan early in training camp, as Neal was not yet ready to debut.

It would stand to reason Ezeudu would receive the first crack at replacing Thomas. Neal could factor in, and this injury would at least position him to receive a game uniform again. Eluemunor does have a history at left tackle, playing on the blind side sparingly during his career. Though, the recent free agency pickup has never played more than 200 snaps at LT in a season. He did see time there for the Patriots and Raiders, but the Giants had viewed the journeyman best at LG or RT.

Ezeudu made five starts at left tackle last season but went down with a season-ending toe injury. Thomas reclaimed his starting gig soon after, but the Giants will need to turn to either Ezeudu or Neal — potentially in a scenario in which Eluemunor changes positions for a second time this year — to replace their anchor. Either way, the team is likely set to see a steep downgrade from Thomas.

Giants’ Andrew Thomas To Visit Foot Specialist; LT’s Season In Jeopardy

After an injury-limited 2023 season, Andrew Thomas has not missed a snap for the Giants this year. But the standout left tackle is dealing with a foot injury that will soon change that.

Thomas is visiting a foot specialist in Charlotte, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who indicates surgery is under consideration. A procedure to repair Thomas’ unspecified injury would likely be season-ending, Rapoport adds. As such, Thomas’ season is considered “up in the air” as of Tuesday.

No scenario appears to exist in which Thomas returns for Week 7 or in the immediate future. Thomas will miss an extended period due to this foot injury, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets. Based on the information presented, it would stand to reason a Thomas IR placement is coming.

Thomas suffered the injury during the Giants’ third-quarter touchdown drive, the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz adds. The team fears he suffered a significant malady. This would be a crushing blow to a Giants team that has seen Daniel Jones play better compared to his 2023 form. Although New York is 2-4, it has seen improvement from its offensive line. Thomas anchors that unit, which has otherwise remained healthy this season.

The Giants have seen all five of their O-line starters — Thomas, Jon Runyan Jr., John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten and Jermaine Eluemunor — log 100% snap rates this season. The team has ex-starters on its second string, with Evan Neal a potential option. Though, the 2022 top-10 pick’s stock has nosedived due to poor play and injury issues. Neal has not suited up for a game this season, leaving Joshua Ezeudu as the swingman.

Neal did not return from his ankle surgery until midway through training camp. By that point, the Giants had scrapped their plan of using Neal as their right tackle and Eluemunor at left guard. Van Roten was signed to start, kicking Runyan to the LG post. The front five the Giants have deployed ranks 23rd, per Pro Football Focus, through six games. Though, the advanced metrics website slots Thomas 16th among tackles.

The Giants had expected Ezeudu to win a starting guard job last year, but they plugged him in at LT following Thomas’ Week 2 hamstring injury that ended up costing him seven games. Ezeudu started five contests but was lost for the season due to a toe malady. Thomas, who secured a lucrative extension that includes $67MM guaranteed last year, has two ankle surgeries on his medical sheet. A foot operation may be added to the list soon, though that is not yet confirmed.

NFL Restructures: Thomas, Holcomb, Vikes

Andrew Thomas landed a lucrative investment from the Giants last summer, and his extension has him on the books through 2029. A recent adjustment made to the pact freed up short-term spending power.

New York converted $4.18MM in 2024 base salary into a signing bonus, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. That move created $3.34MM in cap space available to be used during the final roster-building moves of the offseason or breathing space for during the year. The Giants were already in better cap shape than many teams, however, and the move leaves them with nearly $17MM in available funds – more than what will be needed for any one-year, low-cost deals given to free agents in the coming days.

As Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes, New York had the option of converting another $10MM into a signing bonus (and thus freeing up even more room). Teams often carve out the maximum breathing room possible when executing restructures, although such moves are generally made around free agency. Thomas’ cap number is set to jump to $19.92MM next year, but that figure will remain relatively flat throughout the rest of the pact.

Here are details on some other recent NFL restructures:

  • The Steelers reworked the contract of linebacker Cole Holcomb earlier this month. Pittsburgh added $3.1MM in guaranteed compensation, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The contract includes a split, a provision which allows teams to lower the base pay of players if they land on IR or PUP. Holcomb, 28, went down with a knee injury midway through his debut Steelers campaign and is in danger of missing considerable time again in 2024. This move provides him with added locked in compensation should he manage to remain healthy this season, though. Holcomb’s original Pittsburgh pact, signed last spring, runs through 2025.
  • Josh Metellus has negotiated adjustments to his Vikings pact, as detailed by Wilson. Three void years (2026-28) were added to the contract, along with incentives totaling $5MM over the next two years – although $3.5MM of that figure has been deemed not likely to be earned. None of the 26-year-old’s overall pay (ranging from $1.23MM to $3.78MM) or cap figures ($2.01MM to $4.76MM) have changed as a result of this arrangement, though. As a result, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune predicts further restructuring could take place in the future.