Could the New York Giants find another All-Pro left tackle to replace Andrew Thomas? On Tuesday, the Giants received devastating news as it was revealed that left tackle Andrew Thomas would miss a significant amount of time due to a foot injury. Thomas is set to meet with a specialist, and there is concern that the injury might be season-ending. The injury occurred in the third quarter of the Giants’ 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and afterward, Thomas mentioned he would need an MRI to determine the severity.
When head coach Brian Daboll was asked about Thomas’s status, he said, “I’ll get all that stuff later today and then fill you guys in on Wednesday.”
Thomas, considered one of the best tackles in the league, is arguably the Giants’ best player and a key reason the offensive line has allowed just 14 sacks this season. His importance was evident last year when he missed seven games due to a hamstring injury, during which the team gave up a franchise-record 85 sacks, leading to injuries to quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor. Now, the Giants face a tough decision on how to replace him. Joshua Ezeudu, who filled in at tackle last year but struggled, is currently Thomas’s backup, but it’s unclear if he’ll be promoted to starter again.
Some have speculated that the team could move right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to the left and place Evan Neal at right tackle, where he played from 2022-2023. However, with Eluemunor excelling at right tackle and Neal’s previous struggles, this may not be the best solution.
If the Giants look for outside help, there are a few potential options to replace Thomas. One candidate is David Bakhtiari, who started 131 games at left tackle for the Green Bay Packers from 2013 to 2023. A two-time first-team All-Pro, Bakhtiari was released by the Packers in March and would likely be the top choice to fill in for Thomas. If signed, Bakhtiari would reunite with left guard Jon Runyan Jr., his former teammate in Green Bay, which could be beneficial for the offensive line’s cohesion.
David Bakhtiari
Another option is D.J. Humphries, a former first-round pick who was released by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year. Humphries, 30, was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and could also be a viable replacement.
Regardless of which path the Giants take, losing Thomas is a major setback, especially with a must-win game against the Philadelphia Eagles looming. Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo has done great work with the line this season, but now he and general manager Joe Schoen must figure out how to fill the void left by one of the league’s top tackles.
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