Giants' Andrew Thomas feels a lot different this week with season debut possible

Andrew Thomas moved closer to a season debut for the Giants this week, saying he feels a lot different after three consecutive days of practice. The Week 3 Sunday Night Football clash with the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium looms as New York’s home opener, and Thomas remains listed as questionable with a gametime decision expected. The Giants have stressed longevity as they monitor his recovery and determine how much work he can handle this week.

Thomas told reporters Friday that he’s starting to build a volume and regain his confidence. “Starting to build a volume and get my confidence back. It’s exciting for sure,” he said. He cautioned that he’s not certain he’ll be ready for Sunday, adding, “Don’t know.” He did offer that he’s feeling a lot better than last week, and that a final call will hinge on how he recovers over the next 24 hours. Over the first three weeks of the season, Thomas has taken part in only one full-pads practice, and this week marks the first time in weeks he has logged three straight practices in succession. Daboll’s plan is to give Thomas a heavy workload and see how he handles it before deciding how much game action to assign.

[Image of Andrew Thomas practicing]()

Should Thomas play, the Giants could consider a rotation with rookie Marcus Mbow, who shined against Dallas and was credited with holding up on two pressures over 37 dropbacks in relief. Thomas acknowledged that the backup path is a possibility this week, noting he has not previously deployed a formal rotation in his NFL career. If he is cleared, the coaching staff will decide whether to lean on a full game or stagger snaps to manage his workload and protect his long-term health.

The development comes as New York prepares for a difficult test against a high-powered Kansas City offense. The Chiefs visit MetLife Stadium for a prime-time matchup that carries significant implications for the Giants’ early-season trajectory. The team’s emphasis remains on careful progression for Thomas, balancing immediate help for quarterback Daniel Jones with the need to preserve the left tackle for the remainder of the season. While the final decision on Sunday is still pending, Thomas’ three-practice stretch this week has provided a clearer sense of his conditioning and readiness, and it offers a glimpse into how the Giants might deploy him if he is cleared to play.

If Thomas plays, it could mark a turning point for a line that has faced mounting pressure early in the season. The coaching staff has repeatedly emphasized the goal of building Thomas back into a workhorse role, rather than rushing him back into a full workload before he is fully ready. The rotation option with Mbow would be a new chapter for the veteran, but it also reflects the organization’s willingness to adapt to a changing lineup in order to maximize protection for Jones and sustain the running game throughout the year.

The Giants did not announce any formal changes to Thomas’s status on Friday, and the decision on his snap count will likely come down to how he responds to another day of recovery and on-field work. If he is inactive, New York would rely on Mbow and other reserves to pace the game, with the hope that Thomas can return to full duty in the near future. Whatever the outcome, the team’s emphasis remains on longevity and sustainable performance as it navigates a pivotal early stretch of the season.