Andrew Thomas having return cut short could bring major Giants trouble

Andrew Thomas having return cut short could bring major Giants trouble

Eight (offensive linemen) is not enough.

The root of why Giants receivers were stuck running low-impact curl and dig routes, why ball-carriers couldn’t move the sticks on a third-and-1 and a fourth-and-1 before the score got out of hand, and why Daniel Jones panicked his way to four turnovers is all the same: The offensive line flopped again in a 38-11 loss to the Rams at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

And the Rams’ four sacks and seven quarterback hits might become the norm if left tackle Andrew Thomas misses any more time with foot injuries. After not playing last week because of a left foot injury, Thomas injured his right ankle at the bottom of a pile with 10 minutes left in the second quarter and did not return. Thomas had offseason surgery on his left ankle.

“Andrew is a great player,” Jones said. “He’s played well for us this year. He’s an important piece.”

The Giants started Thomas, Matt Skura, Billy Price, Will Hernandez and Nate Solder from left to right — the first time with a repeat starting offensive line in six games — and used Matt Peart, Korey Cunningham and Wes Martin off the bench. Peart replaced Thomas and promptly was beaten for a strip-sack that he compounded by not scooping up the fumble.

“There’s things that different people have to do on those [turnover] plays to make sure you have a chance to have success,” coach Joe Judge said.

Andrew ThomasAndrew ThomasGetty Images

C.J. Board suffered a broken arm. He will be the fifth receiver to miss games this season due to injury, though his biggest impact is as a returner.

“You hate it for a guy like C.J., who really has pushed through every situation he’s been asked to be in,” Judge said, “and just keeps finding a way to make himself necessary as a player on the roster.”


This was the first NFL game with a 38-11 final score. It is the 1,067th unique final score in history.


With two interceptions, Xavier McKinney became the first Giant with more than one in a game since Janoris Jenkins on Sept. 29, 2019.

“He’s been busting his butt,” safety Logan Ryan said. “He’s going to be a really good player in this league, and I think he’s starting to show that.”