Thomas not practicing after injuring hamstring in opener
EAST RUTHERFORD >> The Giants may have dodged a bullet with their All-Pro left tackle, but it’s uncertain if Andrew Thomas will be ready in time to play Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals.
Thomas did not practice Wednesday and is “day to day” with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Brian Daboll.
“He’s making progress,” Daboll said before the Giants began practicing at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Thomas injured his hamstring while running after the Cowboys blocked a Giants field goal attempt in the first quarter Sunday night. He was visibly affected throughout the game but did not sub out until the third quarter. He played 53 of the team’s 70 snaps on offense.
Thomas underwent an MRI on Monday and is dealing with soft issue soreness.
“It just depends on how it heals,” Thomas said. “They said it was nothing alarming, which is a good sign, so we’ll see how, I guess, the next week is.”
Thomas said he doesn’t remember ever having a hamstring injury in his football career and said he could “definitely feel it” during the game, but adrenaline helped him push through it. He’s unsure what his pain tolerance will be going forward until he gets back on the practice field.
“I’m not sure,” Thomas said when asked what his chances are of playing in Arizona. “Just day by day. They held me out today, so we’ll see if I practice (Thursday) and try to go from there.”
Missing Thomas for any games would be a crippling blow to a Giants offensive line that struggled mightily in the season-opening 40-0 loss to the Cowboys, who pressured quarterback Daniel Jones on 28 of his 42 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Booed rained down on the Giants throughout what was arguably the most disappointing loss in recent franchise history. The Cowboys were only a three-point favorite, and with four returning starters on the offensive line plus promising rookie center John Michael Schmitz, the Giants’ offensive line has been expected to be a solid unit.
“It’s no different than how the fans felt about it, but right now we’re moved on to Arizona and we can’t focus on those things,” right guard Mark Glowinski said of the offensive line’s mood. “All we can do is use that as motivation to play better and with even more fire behind us. That’s the way that we have to go about it.”
If Thomas can’t play Sunday, the top options appear to be backup tackle Matt Peart and backup guard Joshua Ezeudu. Peart played four snaps Sunday after replacing Thomas before injuring his elbow, but he returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday. Ezeudu finished out the game at left tackle and has been practicing there for a “couple of weeks,” Daboll said.
Another option could be undrafted rookie Jaylon Thomas on the practice squad.
“We’ll practice some guys out here, and we’ll be ready to go once Sunday rolls around,” said Daboll, who vaguely added that the Giants will “consider a lot of stuff” but probably not Evan Neal at left tackle.
Neal, the second-year starting right tackle, was arguably the weakest link on the offensive line in the opener as he allowed eight pressures, six hurries and one sack, according to PFF. If his struggles continue, the Giants could consider making a change there as well.
Whatever happens with Thomas, the line insists that it remains confident in the depth they built during training camp.
“I think that we did a great job of keeping a great rotation in the offseason and during camp for when the opportunity comes for somebody else that they can go out there and just play and have fun and do their assignment,” Glowinski said.
Thomas signed a five-year, $117.5 million contract extension with $67 million guaranteed at signing — the most ever for an offensive lineman — in July. The fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Thomas evolved into a Second Team All-Pro last season, and his $23.5 million annual salary ranks second among left tackles behind the Texans’ Laremy Tunsil.
The 24-year-old missed four games with an ankle injury in 2021 and didn’t miss any games due to injury last season.
“It’s frustrating, but it’s part of the NFL,” Thomas said. “You deal with injuries. Every team has them, so it’s just about having the mindset just to keep pushing forward and do everything I can on my part to be able to play.”
Injury Report
Tight end Darren Waller also did not practice Wednesday with what Daboll term as a “vet day” of rest — not because Waller was nursing a hamstring injury late last week.
“That’s something we planned all along, even really since we got him with the sports science and the medical staff,” Daboll said. “Those guys that are over 30 and have had a lot of wear and tear, that have played. We are going to give him a rest day. It’ll probably be once a week.”
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard will likely also have a rest day Thursday and there could be other veterans getting that treatment in future weeks, Daboll said.
The following players were limited with injuries in Wednesday’s practice: Peart, cornerback Deonte Banks, linebacker Cam Brown, kicker Graham Gano, linebacker Azeez Ojulari, safety Gervarrius Owens and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.