Instead of a swing tackle, the Giants might put Josh Ezuadu and Evan Neal on either end of the see-saw.
A year ago, with the offensive line collapsing to an all-time low, star left tackle Andrew Thomas suffered a calamity when he injured his ankle on the first drive of the season and missed the next seven games.
General manager Joe Sean said Thomas' injury was the catalyst for a downturn in the season.
So what is the plan if Thomas or right tackle Jermaine El-Emno are sidelined for Sunday's game against the Vikings?
The Giants could ask Ezeudu to play on either side as a swing tackle, they could have Ezeudu as the backup left tackle and Neal as the backup right tackle, or (if Thomas is out) they could ask Eluemunor to move to left tackle and rotate in a new right tackle.
Ezeudu made his starting appearance in Thomas' absence last year but struggled mightily after not having more than two weeks of training time in the position.
He allowed 11 pressures and five sacks in the first four games.
“I feel a lot more comfortable now,” Ezeudu said. “I've been playing for a year now and I'm a lot more confident.”
Some critics believe the Giants should move Ezeudu back to guard — he played guard as a rookie in 2022 and in training camp last season — but internally the team views him as a tackle.
“I feel like I can play both guard and tackle,” Ezeudu said, “and honestly, I feel like I can do whatever the team needs me to do. In college, I played right tackle, left tackle and left guard all in the same game. [at North Carolina]It was good to have it then because it felt good on both sides. It's not easy to do that.”
Ezeudu missed the final 11 games of last season with a toe injury, while Neal, the starter at right tackle the past two seasons, missed the final seven games with an ankle injury.
Neal starred as a left tackle at the University of Alabama and was selected seventh overall in the 2022 draft, but has never played a snap at any position other than right tackle in the NFL.
Asking him to play swing tackle will be especially tough after his delayed return from offseason surgery.
“I haven't played it yet [left tackle] “I might be a little rusty because I haven't played in a long time, but I can do it,” Neal said. “When my opportunity comes, I'm going to wait for it and take it. Right now I'm just embracing my role and doing what I can to impress the scout team guys and improve myself.”
Neal has allowed 10 sacks in 20 career games.
But he gives the bench options they didn't have last year.
“I would say we are in a better position. [to handle adversity] “Everybody's more experienced now,” Neal said.
The Giants did not list any players as questionable or uncertain on their final injury report for the week. OLB Brian Barnes (ankle) participated in practice Friday on a limited basis.
Safety Dane Belton, QB Drew Lock (abdomen), LB Micah McFadden (groin) and PR Gunner Olszewski (groin) remain limited.
Despite LB Doyontae Johnson and C Austin Schlottmann being on injured reserve, the Giants started the season in their healthiest form in years.
Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) has been cleared to play.
The Giants waived tight end/fullback Jacob Johnson for the third time in two weeks and gave his practice squad spot to recently released linebacker Carter Coughlin because the NFL limits the number of veteran players eligible to be placed on the practice squad.
Coughlin is expected to be elevated to play in Sunday's game.
