Giants’ rookie faces big job vs. 49ers
Andrew Thomas has seen some of the NFL’s top passer rushers in his first two games and the rookie left tackle didn’t disappoint the New York Giants.
The fourth pick overall in the draft went against Bud Dupree of the Steelers in the season opener, and got a mix of Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack against the Bears on Sunday.
The Georgia alum was supposed to face 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa on Sunday. He won’t. The 49ers’ defensive end tore his ACL against the Jets last Sunday and is out for the season.
The 49ers have not said who will start for Bosa. It could be Kerry Hyder or Ziggy Ansah, but the Giants are confident Thomas will put up a fight.
“He’s gone against two great pass rushers and he’s held his own for the most part,” Giants offensive line coach Marc Colombo said. “There’s a lot of room for improvement and Andrew knows this. It’s really good for him to get these type of pass rushers right off the bat because his whole entire career is going to be these type of pass rushers.“
Thomas expects more challenges Sunday, noting the 49ers have depth in their front seven.
“You have to be very specific in your technique every play,” Thomas said. “You can’t get lulled to sleep. You can’t revert to old habits. You have to make sure you have the same technique. The biggest thing for me is having different types of sets, different types of approaches to guys. If you do the same thing over and over, they will adjust to it.”
Injury report: Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III has been declared out for Sunday’s game against the Patriots because of knee and hamstring injuries. Two other Las Vegas starters, right tackle Trent Brown (calf ) and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral), also will miss the game. Running back Josh Jacobs (hip), and tight end Darren Waller (knee) are listed as questionable . ... The list of players who will sit this weekend because of injuries includes New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas (ankle), Buffalo running back Zack Moss (toe), Jets wide receivers Jamison Crowder (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (ankle) and Arizona receiver Christian Kirk (groin).
Briefly: With quarterback Drew Lock out because of a shoulder injury, the Broncos promoted rookie QB Brett Rypien from the practice squad to back up Jeff Driskel for the team’s game against the Buccaneers on Sunday . ... The Panthers cut cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who had signed with the team six days earlier. In March, Johnson was cut by the Jets, who had signed him to a fiveyear, $72.5 million contract before the 2018 season after he played six seasons with the Rams.