Sportsnaut
We’re a little over two weeks away from the New York Giants reporting to training camp, as they look to restore credibility to the franchise after setting a franchise record for losses in 2024.
The Giants will be one of the most intriguing teams during the 2025 season, as some feel the addition of Russell Wilson could have the team in contention for the playoffs. While others feel the team will once again finish last in the NFC East.
In addition to Wilson, left tackle Andrew Thomas will be one of the biggest keys in determining the team’s success. New York took Thomas with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and after a shaky rookie season, he began to develop into one of the best tackles in the league.
In 2022, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle played 16 games, was voted Second-Team All-Pro and helped the Giants make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. As a reward for his performance, the franchise signed their left tackle to a five-year, $117.5 million contract extension in July 2023.
It seemed both the team and Thomas were poised to have an even bigger year in 2023. But all of that changed on the Giants’ first offensive possession of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. The special teams unit attempted a 45-yard field goal that was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Noah Igbinoghene. During the run back, Thomas strained his hamstring.
Despite the injury, he remained in the game until it worsened to a point where he could not continue. The Giants would have to play their next seven games without their starting tackle, and the season spiraled downward. New York went 2-5 without Thomas and finished the year 6-11. What was most glaring about that season was that the Giants allowed their quarterbacks to be sacked 85 times, in large part because they played almost half the season without their All-Pro tackle.
Thomas started the first six games of the 2024 season and was back to his All-Pro form. But a Lisfranc injury in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals would put an abrupt end to his season.
“You can’t replace an Andrew Thomas,” head coach Brian Daboll said when announcing that their left tackle would be lost for the season. There were several reasons why New York finished 3-14 last season, and playing 11 games without Thomas is one of the biggest reasons.
New York went 2-4 in the games Thomas played in and 1-10 without him. In addition, in the six games he appeared in, the offensive line gave up 14 sacks, and 34 sacks in the 11 games without.
Thomas underwent foot surgery on Oct. 17, and he was informed that the recovery could take up to five months. The team will be cautious with him when training camp opens, as foot injuries in large athletes can sometimes linger. When he steps on the practice...
