Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas made his long-awaited return on Sunday night, starting at left tackle against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Thomas played the first 26 offensive snaps Sunday at MetLife Stadium in his first game action since undergoing surgery last October for a Lisfranc tear in his right foot.
Rookie tackle Marcus Mbow then replaced Thomas for the Giants’ final drive of the second quarter and remained in the lineup to start the second half, part of an apparent plan to limit Thomas’ workload in his first game back.
Thomas had acknowledged going into the game that a rotation with Mbow was possible.
“I’m feeling good. Three days in a row practicing, first time doing that,” Thomas, 26, said on Friday. “Starting to build a volume, getting my confidence back. So it’s exciting for sure.”
Thomas suffered the foot injury in Week 6 of last year, ending his season and costing him the first two games of this year, too.
Thomas, the No. 4 overall pick in 2020 and a second-team All-Pro in 2022, is among the NFL’s best blindside protectors, but he’s struggled to stay healthy.
Since signing a five-year, $117.5 million contract extension before the 2023 season, Thomas had missed 20 of a possible 36 games before Sunday’s. The Giants were 3-17 in the games Thomas missed, compared to 6-10 with him in the lineup.
Swing tackle James Hudson III started the Giants’ first two games at left tackle, but he surrendered six pressures in Week 1, then surrendered a sack and committed a whopping four penalties on the opening drive in last week’s 40-37 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Mbow replaced Hudson to start the Giants’ second drive last week and ultimately played 76.1% of the snaps, compared to Hudson’s 23.9%.
TRACY INJURED
Tyrone Tracy suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter Sunday and did not return.
The second-year running back was in visible pain after colliding with Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill and cornerback Jaylen Watson near the sideline after a three-yard reception with 1:34 left in the quarter.
Tracy tapped his right shoulder before receiving medical attention near the Chiefs’ bench.
The 25-year-old Tracy started Sunday’s game and touched the ball on the Giants’ first five plays. He finished with 29 yards on seven carries and two receptions for another seven yards.
Tracy’s absence led to an increased workload for fourth-round rookie Cam Skattebo, who had 39 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards in the first half. His 13-yard touchdown run accounted for the Giants’ only points before halftime.
Skattebo also played more than Tracy last week against the Cowboys, out-snapping him 35 to 28.
ABDUL PLAYS OFF THE BALL
Rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter started the game at off-ball linebacker next to Bobby Okereke and played there on first and second downs, only switching to the defensive line as a pass rusher on third down.
This marked a big change in Carter’s usage from Weeks 1 and 2. He logged only five of 33 snaps (15%) at linebacker in Week 1 at the Commanders and eight of 67 snaps (11%) off the ball in Week 2 at Dallas.
But injuries to several inside linebackers, including Micah McFadden, Chris Board and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowler, created a need for a playmaker in the middle. And Daboll and Shane Bowen are consistently searching for new ways to keep the dynamic rookie on the field to make a maximum impact.
