Not that there was really any doubt, but one week after being benched for disciplinary reasons, first-round offensive tackle Andrew Thomas will be back in the starting lineup for the New York Giants in Week 7.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, fresh off his own suspension, was the first to confirm what head coach Joe Judge had implied earlier this week.
The #Giants plan on having first-round LT Andrew Thomas back in the starting lineup tonight vs. the #Eagles, source said. After a punishment for violating team policy for part of last Sunday, Thomas returns in good standing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2020
Thomas had been benched to start a Week 6 game against the Washington Football Team after showing up late to a team meeting the night prior. In his place, third-round offensive tackle Matt Peart drew the start.
“There was nothing performance-based on that at all in that right there, no. I stress again with Andrew, obviously, this is something the guy made a mistake on a team policy. Again, I’d like to stress this guy is a great dude in the building,” Judge told reporters. “We love Andrew. Nothing disrespectful or malicious. He just made a mistake and there are consequences.”
In his first NFL start, Peart landed the Giants’ highest grade of the week courtesy of Pro Football Focus, which Judge said has “earned” him the right to play.
“Has he earned the right to be on the field and contribute? Absolutely. That’s why he’s going to be at the games for us,” Judge said of Peart.
Even with Thomas back and starting, expected to see Peart in a rotation with Thomas and, potentially, right tackle Cam Fleming.
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