“We’re gonna have a walk-through today. Everybody will be out there participating,” is all New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll had to say about the status of star LT Andrew Thomas for Week 1.
In his press conference on Monday, Daboll answered a question on Thomas’ practice status this week ahead of the Giants Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Officially, there’s been no word on Thomas’ availability for the game. But as Daboll said, they had a walk-through on Monday and everyone participated.
Thomas suffered a foot injury against the Bengals in October of last season. He underwent surgery and has been rehabbing since, though he passed his physical and returned to practice a little over a week ago.
Andrew Thomas’ Injury Status
Sam Hodde/GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Andrew Thomas #78 of the New York Giants is attended to by team medical staff during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
After injuring his foot against Cincinnati on October 13th, Thomas underwent surgery and has been focusing hard on rehabbing since. He was activated off the Physical Unable to Perform (PUP) list on August 24th, after passing his physical. This meant he returned to practice, but it doesn’t mean he’s ready for game action.
There are a lot of steps between being activated off the PUP list and starting an NFL game. Being cleared for some on-field work doesn’t mean you’re ready for full-contact drills, let alone an actual football game. There are several benchmarks Thomas needs to clear before he’ll suit up for the Commanders game.
How close is he to being ready? That’s hard to say. Daboll certainly isn’t giving away any hints. With the Giants’ practice just being a walk-through, there’s no indication of where Thomas is in his recovery, as the team did not release a practice report on Monday.
Walk-throughs are what they sound like: teams “walk through” practice. No pads are on, and no one is running at full-speed. Instead, coaches take the time to install packages, go over the game plan, and work on mental reps. Often, this is done by literally “walking through” plays, which can teach play recognition, help get players on the same page, and practice specific sets and styles.
Because of this, injured players frequently participate in walk-throughs with no restrictions. Typically, teams will release an practice report with approximations of what players’ statuses would be had it been a full practice. However, as I said, the Giants did not release a practice report on Monday.
The New York Giants Need Andrew Thomas Back ASAP
Andrew Thomas is the best player on the entire New York Giants roster, let alone their offensive line. Without him, things fall apart quickly. The Giants have some depth along the interior, with starters LG Jon Runyan, C John Michael Schmitz. Jr., and RG Greg Van Roten backed up by Evan Neal, Marcus Mbow, and Aaron Stinnie. That depth does not exist at tackle, however, as either James Hudson III or Mbow would have to step in if Thomas misses games.
The Giants need him for Week 1, yet Daboll was not inclined to give any specifics on his status.
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