Giants restructure contract with Andrew Thomas to create necessary space in cap fundings
Giants Free Up Cap Space with Andrew Thomas Contract Restructure, Status for Week 1 Uncertain
The New York Giants have restructured the contract of left tackle Andrew Thomas, freeing up $12.2 million in cap space for the team, making them cap-compliant for the start of the regular season. However, Thomas' status for Week 1 against the Washington Commanders remains uncertain as he recovers from a Lisfranc injury in his foot.
Thomas, who signed a five-year, $117 million deal, has not been able to participate in any 11-on-11 reps during the preseason due to the injury. The team will assess his progress on Friday before making a decision on his Week 1 status.
If Thomas is unable to play on Sunday, James Hudson, a 26-year-old newcomer to the Giants, will be responsible for guarding Russell Wilson's blind side. Hudson played in 49 games over four seasons with the Cleveland Browns before this season.
The restructuring of Thomas' contract is a vote of confidence from the Giants that they still believe in him. However, the team's offense may experience a significant point drop if Thomas is not in the lineup, as statistics show the Giants average 19.5 points per game with Thomas in the lineup, compared to 12.3 points per game when he's out.
Andrew Thomas has been hampered by injuries, missing 18 games over the past two seasons. He practiced on Wednesday and looked good, according to head coach Brian Daboll. However, Thomas was held out of Thursday's ramp-up as part of the team's plan.
If Thomas is unable to play against the Commanders, who made it to the NFC Championship Game last year, it could be a significant challenge for the Giants. The team will need to rely on either a backup offensive tackle or a player who can shift from another position to fill the void on Russell Wilson's blind side.
The Giants are hoping that Thomas will be able to return to the lineup soon and help bolster their offense. The team will continue to monitor his progress and make a decision on his Week 1 status based on his readiness to play.
