New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas is back on the field and feeling good.
After missing nearly all of last season due to a Lisfranc injury that required surgery, Thomas started his second straight game in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, playing all 76 snaps. He admitted there was some “normal soreness” after the game but emphasized that his conditioning, not his health, was the bigger adjustment.
“If anything, my lungs were more tired than anything,” Thomas said. “It was a good game. We got the win, so I’ll just keep building on that.”
Thomas said he felt strong even in the second half, noting that the Giants’ up-tempo offense naturally puts added strain on the offensive line. “Being up-tempo, I think that puts stress on everybody up front,” he explained. “But we did a good job handling it. Got a lot of reps with that this week to make sure we’re ready to go.”
The Giants will need that readiness this Sunday when they visit the New Orleans Saints in what’s expected to be a hostile environment. Thomas stressed that communication will be critical for the line and quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“Communication is very important. We’ve got a lot of terms, a lot of motions, different things to get guys open,” Thomas said. “It’s important up front to get to the ball fast and make sure we’re aligned.”
Thomas praised Dart’s ability to step in and lead the offense with poise. “He’s making sure he’s communicating. He’s asking us how the communication is, things he can do to improve, and we’re all just working together to get on the same page.”
Looking ahead, Thomas knows the offensive line has room to grow, especially in the red zone and run game. Still, he called Sunday’s effort a step in the right direction.
“I guess you could say it’s the best because we won,” he said. “But selfishly, we’ve got to score more in the red zone, do a little bit better in the run game, and protect Jaxson better.”
This weekend, Thomas and the Giants’ front five will face a veteran Saints defensive front, led by experienced linebacker play and defensive end Cameron Jordan. Thomas said the key will be communication and execution against a group that’s been together a long time.
“They play a lot of different five-man fronts. It’s a veteran group. A lot of those guys have played a long time together,” Thomas said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re reading our keys and making our blocks.”
For Thomas, the mindset is clear: keep building on his return, stay healthy, and help the Giants keep winning.
