The New York Giants are taking their talents to Landover, MD, to take on the reigning NFC runner-up Washington Commanders in an NFC East divisional showdown. The G-Men have a lot riding on the Week 1 opener, but nothing looms larger than how the new and improved quarterback room will look.
All eyes will be on Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart. Russ will get the start, and he'll need his offensive line to gel and produce early if he's going to look and play like the signal-caller Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen think he can be. Andrew Thomas being listed as doubtful on Friday was the first gut punch to the line, but it's the release of Big Blue's inactives ahead of their season opener that will catch eyes.
Evan Neal has been listed as inactive against the Commanders. He is not injured. He is not battling anything off the field. He's just not good enough to play... in the season opener. Neal, in a last-ditch effort to save his career, moved to guard after three disappointing seasons at tackle. His being listed as a no-go all but signals the end of his career in Giants blue.
GIANTS INACTIVES
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) September 7, 2025
▪️OT Andrew Thomas
▪️S Beau Brade
▪️OL Evan Neal
▪️TE Thomas Fidone II
▪️DL Darius Alexander
▪️QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB) pic.twitter.com/WzCQeBgdka
Evan Neal has run out of time in New York
There is no other way to put it, this is an absolutely terrible look for the 24-year-old. This is a former top-10 pick who's falling subject to a healthy scratch in Year 4. That's terrible.
The 6-foot-7, 340-pound physical specimen just hasn't been able to translate his promising Alabama tape to the NFL. In an effort to remain on the roster, Neal moved inside to guard. The early offseason returns looked great. His reps were violent, and he even caught the eyes of former Giants legends, who felt this was going to work out really well for all parties involved.
Fast-forward a few months, and that narrative is all but washed. Neal failed to win the starting guard spot over Greg Van Roten, and the preseason exposed just how behind he truly was. It was seemingly easy for him to show up for one-on-one reps at training camp, but it was another beast altogether to put consistent efforts together in-game.
His continued struggles led to Daboll not even entertaining playing him in the opener. Neal showed up to the Commanders game in sneakers and didn't participate in team warm-ups. It's unacceptable at this point. It's time to finally call this for what it is: a failed experiment that needs to end ASAP. It's all but over.