The New York Giants are in a tough spot as Andrew Thomas, their star left tackle, is expected to miss a lot of time with a foot injury.
Thomas’s foot injury occurred during their 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and he played through the pain although he was limping heavily.
Unfortunately, he might have a serious Lisfranc injury, which could end his season, but he is still weighing his options.
After the game, he said he was “fighting through the pain.”
Tests on Monday showed the injury is serious, and doctors have confirmed the bad news.
So, if he misses the rest of the season, which seems quite likely, the Giants may struggle like they did last year when Thomas was out.
Last season, Thomas missed seven games after hurting his hamstring in the first game.
And essentially, the offensive line fell apart without him, and the team gave up 85 sacks, a franchise record.
This season, the Giants’ offensive line improved under Carmen Bricillo, their new offensive line coach.
In fact, all five starters had played every snap in the first six games.
Evidently, Thomas was a big reason for that success, ranking 25th in pass blocking with an 88.9% win rate.
Since 2022, he’s ranked ninth with a pass block win rate of 91.8%.
Now, the Giants are scrambling to figure out how to replace Thomas.
Their first option might be Joshua Ezeudu, a third-year player who has been Thomas’s backup.
Ezeudu played tackle before but struggled when he stepped in last season.
Another option is right tackle Evan Neal, though the team has been reluctant to move him.
Shifting Neal might cause more problems on the line, especially since Jermaine Eluemunor, another tackle, would likely have to switch positions to cover for Neal.
If the Giants are unsure about their current players, they could seek help from free agents.
One option is David Bakhtiari, a veteran left tackle who has played 131 games and been named All-Pro multiple times.
Another choice could be D.J. Humphries, a former Pro Bowler from the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s safe to say either of these players could really help the Giants in Thomas’s absence.
But the timing couldn’t be worse for the Giants, who are facing a must-win game against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday.
They are currently 2-4, and losing Thomas will make it much harder to protect quarterback Daniel Jones.
Jones will likely face more pressure from defenders without a strong left tackle, which could hurt the team’s chances in future games.
Plus, the long-term impact of Thomas’s injury is also a big concern.
In July 2023, Thomas signed a five-year, $117.5 million contract, focusing on security because of his past ankle injuries.
Now, with this latest injury, the team is facing the reality of losing one of their most valuable players.
Coach Bricillo and the Giants’ staff now face the tough challenge of keeping the offensive line strong without their top player.
The group had built good chemistry, and that would be difficult to replicate with a new player.
But the Giants have no choice—they need to find a solution quickly to stay competitive in the NFC East.
Whether the Giants decide to stick with Ezeudu or Neal or bring in a veteran like Bakhtiari or Humphries, the success of their season may depend on how well they handle the loss of Thomas.
With tough games ahead, including big division matchups, the team needs to make a decision soon.
Losing Thomas could be the turning point in the Giants’ season.