Andrew Thomas injury shouldn't change Giants' evaluation of Daniel Jones in 2024

The New York Giants have spent the laat few season trying to answer the eternal question that plagues every franchise with a scuffling quarterback like Daniel Jones. Are his struggles a result of his poor play, or an offense that has done little to surround him with quality offensive linemen and playmakers.

2024 seems to be giving the Giants their answer. Not only has Malik Nabers looked like a superstar in the making, but the Giants revamped their offensive line by signing Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan Jr. alongside former Second Team All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas.

This setup looks promising, but it was dealt a major blow when it was announced Thomas was going to miss some time with a foot injury. Things went from bad to worse Wednesday morning, as Thomas underwent surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in his foot and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

While this is certainly a crushing blow, as 2022 third-rounder Joshua Ezeudu will likely slide in behind Thomas, this should not be used as yet another Get Out Of Jail Free card for Jones. In his sixth season, an alleged franchise quarterback should be able to have success in this offense.

Andrew Thomas injury shouldn't change Giants' view of Daniel Jones

While the Giants aren't exactly a high-octane offense, quarterbacks should be able to put up numbers and win games with the talent around them. Even without Thomas, the new-look offensive line is more than solid, and a mobile quarterback like Jones should be able to navigate it.

While there is a lot of truth in the statement that quarterbacks need support from their offense and can't do it alone, that excuse can't be used to justify a player in his sixth season as the starting quarterback performing like someone who is still trying to get his feet wet in the NFL.

The Giants will get thrown into the fire without Thomas, as their next two games are against the division-rival Eagles and a Steelers team led by the mighty TJ Watt. Ezeudu will need to perform immediately, lest the Jones defenders come out of the woodwork.

Giants fans who keep the training wheels on Jones needed to take them off long ago, but the Thomas injury will likely prevent them from doing so. That's the wrong way to go about it. Even without Thomas, it is put up or shut up time for Jones.