Thomas set to provide lift up front

Name all of the Giants who exceeded even the most optimistic expectations during the first half of the season.

The list starts with left tackle Andrew Thomas. It might end there, too.

So, there is no overstating the importance of Thomas’ likely return after a three-game absence. Thomas remains on injured reserve, but the Giants have until 4 p.m. Monday — about four hours before kickoff against the Buccaneers — to activate him.

“Coming off the bye, I got some time to get some reps in and I’m feeling pretty good,” Thomas said after Saturday’s practice. “Nothing right now [standing in the way of playing] in my mind.”

After a disappointing rookie season, Thomas has allowed zero sacks and just seven pressures on 201 pass-blocking snaps. He did not play against the Cowboys due to a left foot injury and returned for a half before his right ankle was rolled from behind in a “wrong place, wrong time” freak accident against the Rams.

“When you’re building, you don’t want to be off the field,” Thomas said. “They kept me very involved in the process as far as meetings, so I’m always in tune to what’s going on. Any calls, any checks, I know what’s going on.” ➤ The Giants ruled out S Logan Ryan (COVID-19), OLB Lorenzo Carter (illness, ankle), WR Sterling Shepard (quad) and special-teamer Nate Ebner (knee). For Ryan, the focus shifts to whether he will meet the NFL’s standard for an asymptomatic vaccinated player who received a positive COVID-19 test result to return (two consecutive negative test results separated by 24 hours) before Nov. 28 against the Eagles.

“He’s been in virtual meetings,” coach Joe Judge said. “He can’t be out here with us at the facility.” ➤ RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), RB Devontae Booker (hip), TE Kaden Smith (knee) and FB Cullen Gillaspia (calf ) were listed as questionable on the injury report. All were limited practice participants.

“[Barkley is] trending the right way and really progressing,” Judge said around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. “The next 48 hours will be big in terms of seeing how his body responds.”

The Buccaneers ruled out WR Antonio Brown (ankle), listed TE Rob Gronkowski (back), CB Dee Delaney (ankle/concussion) and DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (ankle) as questionable and DT Vita Vea (knee) as doubtful.