Marcus Mbow

Following rumors throughout the week that Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas may finally make his way back to the field again this season, the team officially announced that Thomas is active for tonight’s matchup with the Chiefs. The question remains, though, just how active Thomas will be.

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, resulting in plenty of uncertainty in his regular season availability.

Thomas took part in practice for Weeks 1 and 2 but was listed as doubtful for both contests. With an increased workload this week, some optimism arose that keeping him off of any type of injured lists to open the season was, perhaps, a good move. While things were certainly improving, Thomas was reportedly still not at 100-percent health. This led to some speculation on what might be the best way to get Thomas back up to speed.

Yesterday saw reports that Thomas could certainly make his season debut tonight, but it may not be as a full-time starter. As he focuses on longevity on his way back, it had been proposed that Thomas may play in a rotation on the offensive line. Marcus Mbow has been helping to fill in on the blindside for Thomas and would likely be the one rotating with him at left tackle, especially considering that the team is not considering moving Mbow inside to guard with Thomas’ return.

Regardless of how much time he sees, the Giants will certainly be happy to get Thomas back on the field tonight. It will be interesting to see just how much he can go as he continues to ramp his way back up to full health.

SEPTEMBER 20: With Thomas set to return on at least a rotational basis, Mbow is indeed in line for a part-time role on the blindside or a return to backup duties. Daboll confirmed (via Bridget Reilly of the New York Post) Mbow taking over a first-team spot at guard is not being considered

SEPTEMBER 18: 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.