The New York Giants apparently can’t make it through a season without a left tackle injury crisis, and Week 16 might've just brought another one. Andrew Thomas pulled up early in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings, limped off with trainers, and never returned to the field.
Related: 2 winners (and 3 losers) from Giants’ embarrassing Week 16 loss to Vikings
The team eventually ruled him out early for the second half with a hamstring issue. The soon-to-be 27-year-old spoke to the media after the game and said his leg felt sore, but they won’t know how bad it is until they do imaging on Monday. He also made it clear he doesn’t want to sit out the final two games if he’s cleared to play.
According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Thomas said he's already missed enough time and doesn't want to sit out the final two games of the season if he's healthy. It's truly admirable for him to want to get back out on the field, even on the tail end of another miserable season, but at the same time, it might not make all that much sense.
Andrew Thomas’ hamstring injury puts Giants in tough spot
It's another injury to a growing list for the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder. This isn’t his first go-round with a hamstring issue, either. In 2023, he missed seven games with one, though fans can feel relieved as this time it’s his other leg. Thomas said it doesn’t feel like the same injury, but the G-Men will wait for MRI results before making any further decisions.
He’s also not far removed from a season-ending Lisfranc injury suffered last year. That one cost him the final 11 games of the season and the first two this year. Since returning, he’s been nothing short of incredible -- Pro Football Focus ranks him as the fourth-best offensive tackle, with an 89.7 overall grade. He was well on his way to a Pro Bowl and potential All-Pro season.
That’s what makes this injury such a headache. On one hand, the 2020 fourth overall pick wants to finish the season on his terms. On the other hand, there’s literally nothing left for him to play for, and the G-Men don’t need to risk their best offensive lineman's health while they slop through a 2-13 season.
Adding some more murkiness to the situation is rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who needs all the protection he can get. The 22-year-old has had his own share of injuries and scares this season. If Thomas isn’t close to 100%, it’s not worth putting him out there, for both of their sakes.
It’s possible this ends Thomas' 2025 season with two games left, and while that’s a tough way to go out, it’s also probably the smart move.