Andrew Thomas Returns to Practice; Giants Weigh Possible Return vs. Cowboys
Left tackle practiced for a second straight day, but coach Brian Daboll said a game decision will depend on how Thomas feels after practice
New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas practiced for the second consecutive day on Friday, leaving open the possibility he could make his 2025 debut Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Brian Daboll said Thomas took more reps than he did Thursday but that the team will evaluate how he feels after practice before making a decision.
"We'll see how he feels after practice," Daboll said when asked about the possibility Thomas plays in Dallas. Daboll added that Thomas had taken a good amount of reps on Thursday and appeared to be feeling better, but cautioned that that did not necessarily mean he would be ready to play on Sunday.
Thomas missed the entire preseason while recovering from surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals in October, six games into the 2024 season. It has been about 11 months since Thomas last appeared in a game. He entered the season as the Giants' starting left tackle and a key protector for quarterback Russell Wilson.
The absence of Thomas was notable in New York's Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders, when the offense managed just two field goals and Wilson was sacked twice and hit eight times. James Hudson III started in Thomas' place and struggled alongside a line that had difficulty sustaining protection and run blocking.
Daboll and the Giants' medical staff have been monitoring Thomas' progress through the week. The team typically weighs practice participation, pregame walkthroughs and player feedback before finalizing game-day decisions, and Daboll indicated the evaluation process would continue through Saturday's practice and meetings.
If Thomas is unable to play, the Giants are expected to rely on Hudson and the existing depth chart at tackle. A return would mark the end of a lengthy recovery from foot surgery and a potential boost to an offensive line that struggled in the season opener.
The Giants face the Cowboys on Sunday in Dallas. The club will make a final decision on Thomas' status after its pregame evaluations and the coaching staff's assessment of his readiness.