All roads to the Giants’ 2024 struggles lead back to key lineman injury

The New York Giants’ 2024 season was always going to be fragile, but Andrew Thomas’s season-ending injury was the final blow.

Through the first six weeks, the Giants’ offensive line had been a rare bright spot, showing cohesion and competence. Then Thomas, the team’s All-Pro left tackle and unquestioned anchor, suffered a lisfranc injury that required surgery, ending his season.

The impact was immediate and devastating. Head coach Brian Daboll acknowledged as much when he said, “You can’t replace an Andrew Thomas.” The truth of those words has played out over the past six weeks, where the Giants are winless (0-6) and rank dead last in points per game at 15.3. Without Thomas, the line has been reshuffled and reworked, with players like Joshua Ezeudu, Evan Neal, and Jermaine Eluemunor trying (and largely failing) to fill the massive void.

For the second straight year, Thomas’s absence has derailed the team. In 2023, he missed seven games with a hamstring injury, during which the offensive line fell apart and the Giants allowed a franchise-record 85 sacks. Now in 2024, it’s the same story, and it’s fair to ask if this offense could have been even remotely functional with its best player healthy.

NY Giants season could have gone much differently if Andrew Thomas were healthy

When healthy, Andrew Thomas is the kind of player who can transform an offensive line. His presence at left tackle provides a stabilizing force for the entire unit. Without him, the line has become a liability, leading to a domino effect on the offense.

Joshua Ezeudu, who stepped in at left tackle, has struggled mightily, just as he did in 2023 when filling in for Thomas. Ezeudu, while athletic, lacks the polish and experience to handle premier pass rushers, and his inexperience has been glaring. Evan Neal, once seen as a cornerstone tackle, remains inconsistent at right tackle, and Jermaine Eluemunor hasn’t been able to steady the group either.

The lack of protection has left the Giants’ quarterbacks—whether it’s Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock—facing constant pressure. The offense has resorted to quick, low-risk plays that have stifled any creativity or explosiveness. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley has had no room to run, with defenses keying on the run game knowing the passing attack isn’t a threat.

The Giants’ inability to find adequate depth at tackle has been a glaring issue. It’s clear that this offseason, addressing the offensive line has to be a priority. With Thomas’s recent injuries, both coming in back-to-back years, finding reliable backups who can hold their own when called upon is no longer optional; it’s essential.

The Giants’ 2024 struggles can be traced back to Andrew Thomas’s injury and the lack of a viable backup plan. For a team already on shaky ground, losing their best player on offense exposed how fragile their foundation was. Thomas remains one of the NFL’s elite tackles, but his absence has highlighted the need for the Giants to ensure their line can withstand the inevitable attrition of an NFL season. Until that happens, the Giants will remain one injury away from collapse.

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