The New York Giants' 2024-25 season did not go the way the organization or fans had hoped or planned. The Daniel Jones-led Giants failed to build upon their surprising success in 2022, with a disappointing 6-11 season only to walk into an even worse situation the next season.
After starting 2-3, things didn't seem all that bad for last year's Giants. It wasn't until the injuries started to mount that the wheels truly fell off the wagon, and things started to spiral out of control. No one is saying the season would have gone dramatically differently, but injuries definitely played a part in the worst season in franchise history.
Two of the biggest season-altering injuries were to offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Thomas suffered a foot injury that would keep him out for the rest of the season, essentially decimating any legitimate offensive line help. Just six weeks later, Lawrence went down with an elbow injury that ended his season, securing the team's status as the worst the organization has ever had to offer.
There were several more injuries that occurred, but none more important than those two. Ensuring the health of Thomas and Lawrence amounts to the same as ensuring this team can compete on Sundays. Well, at the NFL Combine, general manager Joe Schoen gave an update on both of their injuries, which should have fans buzzing.
Andrew Thomas and Dexter Lawrence are looking healthy
When speaking at the combine the other day, Schoen said, "Dex is good. You saw him at the Pro Bowl, so I'm assuming he's good. I haven't seen him physically but he played tug-of-war, so he looks good."
That's great news. Through the first seven weeks of the season, Lawrence had amassed a career-high nine sacks. He was clearly the most disruptive player for the G-Men defensively, and losing him, albeit during a loss season, was still painful. It made the team borderline unwatchable.
Speaking of unwatchable, the offensive line was a disaster after Thomas went out for the season with his injury. He anchored a starting line that had no changes through the first six weeks of the season. For the most part, they were pretty solid. Schoen spoke about Thomas' progress:
"He looks phenomenal. No boot on the foot or anything. He's moving well. He looks humongous right now. He's been in [the weight room]. Actually him, John Michael (Schmitz), Jimmy Morrissey, there were like five or six [players there], [Joshua] Ezeudu, offensive linemen that were just in there the other morning when I was in there. It's cool to see those guys hanging around and working together."
That’s exactly the kind of update Giants fans needed to hear. Injuries derailed what was already a rough season, but having Thomas and Lawrence back at full strength gives this team a fighting chance to turn things around in 2025.
Thomas solidifying the offensive line again? Huge. Lawrence wreaking havoc in the trenches? Even bigger. The Giants still have a long way to go, but if these two can stay healthy, it’s at least a step toward fielding a team that doesn’t make Sundays unbearable to watch.