Andrew Thomas' right foot is in the boot, but neither foot is out the door.
Thomas, one of the Giants' top three players and a three-time co-captain, expressed confidence Friday that there will be better days ahead during a franchise-record nine-game losing streak, which was extended Sunday. He said there is a possibility that against the Falcons.
“You always have to have the mindset to turn things around,” Thomas said in his first interview since Lisfranc injured his right foot on Oct. 13. . We've had some season-ending injuries this season, so we're trying to be as positive as possible, but I think we have young players who can play well. It will take time, but I'm sure you can achieve it. ”
Thomas' health is one of the biggest keys to building a sustainable foundation. The 2022 second-team All-Pro is under contract for $117.5 million through the 2029 season.
Over the past two seasons, the Giants were 2-13 with Thomas at left tackle and 6-10 without him.
He missed seven games last season with a hamstring injury, managed to play more than 30 plays through a foot injury, and ended the game against the Bengals at the beginning of this slide.
“It was a normal down block, but something felt off,” Thomas said. “I knew something was wrong.”
The Giants are short on talent on all fronts, but Thomas carries the burden of being the most irreplaceable player on the roster.
The front office and coaching staff's failure to add a viable Plan B at left tackle over the past few years has proven fatal.
“Sometimes you think, 'I should have, I could have, I would have done that,' but it happened,” Thomas said. “There's not much I can do to change what happened. All I can do is prepare for next year.”
Thomas said he was told his five-month recovery has been completed and he is expected to be back on the field in time for OTAs.
But it would be foolish for the Giants to push the envelope, especially considering the impact of 300 pounds could cause a lingering leg injury.
“It’s frustrating,” Thomas said. “Of course I want to go out there and help the team. I think I'm an important part of this team, but it hurts when I'm away from the team. I had surgery on my foot before. The most important thing is not to rush.”
Thomas' career was marred by instability.
He has played for two general managers, two head coaches, five offensive line coaches and with an endless merry-go-round of left guards and quarterbacks.
“I thought we played better when everyone was healthy,” Thomas said of the offensive line. “I thought this was the best football I've played up front in a while. So I hope I can stay healthy next year and continue to build that continuity.”
It may not be so linear.
All eyes are once again on the Giants (2-12) as they stumble toward the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I can't pinpoint anything exactly, but when you watch the game, it's the same as when we were playing, but no one is happy to lose,” Thomas said. “We put a lot of effort into it, but I think the most frustrating thing is we have the pieces. We have talented players on this team who can perform at a high level. It’s just about consistency.”
The Giants were last in the league in points scored and 20-yard passing plays over the past two seasons.
“We have long sustained drives, and it's hard to do that consistently in this league,” Thomas said. “We lack explosive plays, so I think that's probably one area we can improve on. If that doesn't lead to wins, sometimes it feels like we haven't grown at all. Offensively. I would say there's been some improvement on that front. And I think the guys did the best they could with just dealing with all the injuries that happened with different quarterbacks playing.”
Thomas recently returned to team meetings after spending the first part of his rehabilitation out of the facility. He travels on a scooter and will be out of the trunk in two weeks.
“He's a hard worker, a professional at what he does and a really good player,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “The left tackle position is always going to be challenging, especially when you have a player who plays at a high level, when that player isn't doing what they're supposed to do in the grand scheme of things. I missed him. If there's anyone who can bounce back from that…he'll do everything right.”
