The New York Giants came off of a 2022 playoff run with a disastrous season that unofficially ended the Daniel Jones era. He returned in 2024 to start just 10 games before the door officially closed. He was benched and (amicably) released.
Jones’ poor play wasn’t the only similarity from the Giants’ last two seasons. In back-to-back seasons, the offensive line collapsed, making Jones’ life even more difficult and limiting the run game. Saquon Barkley saw just how impactful an offensive line could be. Tyrone Tracy Jr. saw a glimpse of it for all of six games.
For the first six games of the season, New York’s additions of Jon Runyan Jr., Greg Van Roten, and Jermaine Eluemunor played a critical role in elevating the offensive line.
And then left tackle Andrew Thomas went down. For the second consecutive season, Thomas’ injury opened the door for the offensive line to wither without its best player.
Subsequently, ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote about how one player’s health could define the Giants’ season.
“Thomas, whom I consider one of the better left tackles in the game and still an ascending player, had Lisfranc surgery and missed every game after Week 6,” Solak wrote. “There wasn't much going on with the Giants' season anyway, but if they have any hope of developing rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, ensuring a sealed blind side is a nonnegotiable. Lisfranc injuries can be nasty, lingering things, so Thomas' health and form are something to keep an eye on.”
New York simply lacks the depth to withstand another significant absence from Thomas. That isn’t inherently general manager Joe Schoen’s fault. There simply aren’t enough good linemen available, especially at an affordable rate.
Even so, the Giants’ veteran additions were uninspiring. Neither James Hudson III nor Stone Forsythe is a quality backup lineman, despite their second-string. Evan Neal is kicking inside to guard, too. If Thomas goes down, New York’s hopes could shift to rookie Marcus Mbow, an uncertain proposition at best.
Simply put, Giants fans have seen this story before. The defense is incredibly potent and quarterback Russell Wilson is a sizable upgrade over Jones. A serious enough Thomas injury could render that meaningless.