With just ten days until the Giants kick off their season against the Commanders, concerns surrounding left tackle Andrew Thomas continue to linger.
Thomas, who dealt with Lisfranc injuries last October, had surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He missed most of training camp and still seems uncertain about his availability for the upcoming game. He candidly shared, “I don’t really have a lot of reps. I did some individual drills and took on one person in charge. I’m trying to make progress slowly, but I’m not making any predictions right now.”
Having Thomas in the lineup is crucial; losing him at any point would significantly impact the Giants. Last season, with Thomas participating in only six games, the Giants allowed a staggering 48 sacks, placing them 21st in the league.
After addressing a group of reporters, Thomas revealed to Athletic that he had undergone a second surgery in April to remove screws that had been placed in his leg during the prior surgery in October, indicating a clearer timeline for recovery.
While he attended practice wearing pads on Wednesday, he had yet to take any team reps. On Thursday, he described his condition as “feeling good,” but the plan is for him to test his leg on Friday and gauge how it responds, which will dictate what he can do leading up to next week.
Coach Brian Dabour remained tight-lipped when asked about Thomas’s status, simply stating, “He’s day to day and improving each day. We may need to limit him tomorrow. He’s doing everything he can to be ready.”
Thomas acknowledged that managing pain is part of the process, and recovery remains a concern. “I’m not trying to impose a deadline on myself,” he mentioned. “Of course, I want to return, but if I’m not at the right performance level, it wouldn’t make sense.” He added that it’s tricky for him and his doctors to determine whether the pain is manageable or indicative of worsening conditions.
Touching on recovery, Thomas referred to a previous injury of former Giants center Sean O’Hara’s, noting that pain management would likely be an ongoing challenge throughout the season. “It’s a serious injury,” Thomas said. “Expectations can be misleading; for someone like O’Hara, it took nine to ten months to really get back to where he needed to be.”
As for whether he might play only part of the game in the first week, Thomas stated that those discussions have yet to occur. He seemed unsure whether he needed to practice with the team in pads before taking the field.
“I think it’s something I’ll have to figure out when I get there,” he reflected. “I’m feeling alright mentally. I know my tasks, but conditioning and matching up with teammates is key.”
