New York Giants fans didn’t exactly walk into good news when the team announced Andrew Thomas would begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Considering Thomas is the only thing standing between a capable Giants offense and Swiss cheese, seeing his name anywhere near an injury report tends to spike the blood pressure juuust a bit.
Andrew Thomas, Eric Gray placed on PUP list
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 22, 2025
Details: https://t.co/cKe84tYUKe pic.twitter.com/F11jtlpgdm
And yet, this one shouldn't ring the alarm bells that it would normally, were it not for context. For one, this isn’t a surprise. The team has said for months they were going to be “smart” with Thomas after his season-ending Lisfranc injury suffered last October. He didn’t take the field at all during spring practices, and he’s still easing back.
Nothing about this feels rushed, and that’s a good thing.
The timing of it all may stink, especially with training camp opening Wednesday and optimism flying around like it’s free, but context matters here. Thomas is on the active PUP list, meaning he can be removed at any point, start practicing immediately, and still get work in on the sideline in the meantime. It’s not ideal, but it’s a far cry from panic mode.
Giants shock absolutely no one by taking things slowly with Andrew Thomas
If we’re being honest, the only thing that matters is whether Thomas is on the field in Week 1 against the Commanders. If that means he takes a little longer getting there, then so be it.
The G-Men without Thomas last year were unwatchable on offense. The pass protection was a disaster. The run game all but disappeared. Quarterbacks were getting folded like lawn chairs behind a line that couldn’t stop a nosebleed. That’s not an exaggeration — watch the tape.
So if keeping Thomas off the field for the first few practices helps make sure he’s on the field when it actually matters, it’s the only move worth making.
Joe Schoen signed James Hudson III, brought in Stone Forsythe, and drafted Marcus Mbow, with Jermaine Eluemunor already in the mix to hold things down for now. There’s enough of a stopgap in place to hold the line until Thomas is cleared.
It’s also worth noting Thomas has said he’s feeling good and that Week 1 remains the goal. He’s just not putting a timeline on it publicly, and after what he went through last season, nobody can blame him. Lisfranc injuries are tricky, and the last thing this team needs is another setback.
Call it caution. Call it calculated. Just don’t call it cause for concern — at least not yet.