The New York Giants are 2-12 this season and are dead last in the NFC after 15 weeks. They are banged up beyond recognition and there seems to be no hope on the horizon.
Don’t try to tell that to Andrew Thomas, the Giants’ All-Pro left tackle who is currently on season-ending injured reserve (IR) with a fractured foot. The Giants’ 2020 first-round pick played in just six games this year but has stayed close to the team and is invested for the long haul.
“You always have to feel like we’re going to turn it around,” Thomas told the New York Post. “If you have a negative mindset, you’ll never overcome. I’m trying to be as positive as I can, having this season-ending injury, but I think we have a good collective group of some young players that can play well. It’s going to take some time, but I think we’ll get there.”
Thomas gave his first interview since incurring a Lisfranc injury to his right foot in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 13. Thomas played through the injury to finish the game. He is that dedicated.
Thomas signed a five-year, $117.5 million deal last summer to stay in blue through 2029. This is the second straight season Thomas has dealt with a long-term injury. He missed seven games last year with a hamstring and will miss 11 this season due to the foot.
“It’s frustrating,” Thomas said. “Obviously, I want to be out there and help my team. I think I’m a big part of this team, and when I’m not out there it hurts. I’ve dealt with foot surgeries before. The biggest thing is just not rushing.”
The Giants weren’t very good with Thomas in the lineup. But he felt they were getting closer to paying with more continuity, especially along the offense line.
“When we were all healthy, I thought we were playing better,” Thomas said of the offensive line. “I thought that’s the best football we’ve played up front in a while, so hopefully next year we can stay healthy and continue to build that continuity.”
That plan unraveled quickly this year. Injuries to Thomas and others have caused the Giants to shuffle and reshuffle the line on nearly a weekly basis over the past two months.
Next year is promised to no one, but one thing the Giants can count on is Thomas coming back. After that, no one is sure who will be here and in what capacity. All Thomas knows is that things have to be better and staying positive is one way of making that a reality.
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