Big Blue targeting Week 8 return for Andrew Thomas, who suffered setback with hamstring

Here is the latest news and possible return dates for Giants players…

Oct. 22, 9:30 a.m.
All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas hasn’t been able to play since the season opener against Dallas, but it sounds like he could be back next week.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Giants are “targeting” for Thomas to return next Sunday against the Jets.
Schefter also reports that Thomas suffered a setback with his hamstring injury while trying to practice leading up to the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which has led the Giants to be “extra cautious” with him returning.

Oct. 21, 7:03 p.m.
The Giants’ Week 7 matchup with the Washington Commanders is less than 24 hours away and it seems Big Blue will be without their starting quarterback for the second week in a row.
According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Daniel Jones will not play this Sunday but is “trending in the right direction.”
Jones missed last week’s game against the Bills due to a neck injury but has practiced without any contact this week. Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters Friday that Jones had a chance to play but it seems that he will not be able to make it.
The Giants elevated Tommy DeVito from the practice squad on Saturday, which lends credence to Jones’ status.

Oct. 20, 2:25 p.m.
Offensive linemen Andrew Thomas (hamstring), John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and Matt Peart (shoulder) are out for the Giants’ Week 7 game against the Washington Commanders while quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) still has a chance to play, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters two days before the 1 p.m. kickoff.
“He’ll be out here today, doing some stuff,” Daboll said of Jones, who is still not cleared for contact but listed as questionable on New York’s pregame injury report.
“We’ll see,” Daboll added. “We’re talking to medical people and just take it day by day here.”
Offensive tackle Evan Neal (ankle) and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (neck) are also questionable.

Oct. 19, 12:50 p.m.
Daniel Jones will practice on a limited basis again on Thursday after having the same designation on Wednesday, but he is still not cleared for contact, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters.
Jones is able to throw, but being unable to take contact at this point makes him returning for Week 7 against the Commanders seem unlikely.
“I’m close, I’m pretty close,” Jones said on Wednesday. “I just gotta keep doing what I’m doing and trust the doctors and trainers what they’re telling me to do and keep going about it.”
He added:”
At this point, we’re just taking it day-by-day and seeing how I feel that day and going through the tests. Sunday’s a little ways away at this point, just trying to get better every day.”

Oct. 19, 11:58 a.m.
The hits just keep coming for the Giants offensive line.
The team announced on Thursday morning that guard Shane Lemieux has been placed on IR after suffering a torn biceps during Wednesday’s practice.
A fifth-round pick of the Giants in 2020, Lemieux has appeared in four games this season, making the start in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. While he’s primarily played on special teams this season, he has played 91 total offensive snaps.
To fill Lemieux’s spot on the active roster, the Giants signed offensive lineman Sean Harlow off of Dallas’ practice squad.

Oct. 18, 12:23 p.m.
Daniel Jones (neck) has been cleared to throw and will return to practice on a limited basis, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Wednesday.
However, Jones has not been cleared for contact, meaning he will not take part in any team reps.
Daboll also said that Jones’ season is “not over,” and he reiterated that Jones will be the team’s starting quarterback when he’s healthy enough to play.

Oct. 17, 11:36 a.m.
Daniel Jones, who missed the Giants’ Week 6 loss to the Bills due to a neck injury, said on Tuesday that he’s still dealing with some of the symptoms.
However, Jones is hoping to return for Week 7’s matchup against the Commanders at MetLife Stadium, saying on the Up & Adams Show that he is trying to “prove to the doctors and trainers” that he’s ready.
Jones, who didn’t practice last week, had said the main issue was being able to take contact during the game.
Tyrod Taylor started in Jones’ place against the Bills and will start against the Commanders if Jones can’t go.
The Giants are off on Tuesday, and will be back practicing on Wednesday.

Oct. 15, 9:30 p.m.
The Giants’ beaten and battered offensive line took another hit in the first quarter of Sunday night’s game in Buffalo.
Left tackle Joshua Ezeudu, who is playing while Andrew Thomas is out with a hamstring injury, sustained a toe injury and was declared out for the remainder of the game against the Bills.
Justin Pugh, who was recently signed to the practice squad and was starting at left guard on the night, replaced Ezeudu at left tackle. Mark Glowinski entered at left guard.

Oct. 15, 7:04 p.m.
After missing the last three games, running back Saquon Barkley is active and will play for the Giants at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.
In addition to being without quarterback Daniel Jones (neck), offensive tackles Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and Matt Peart (shoulder), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), who were ruled all out on Friday, Big Blue has listed safeties Bobby McCain and Gervarrius Owens as inactive and defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (knee).
Tight end Darren Waller (hamstring), offensive tackle Evan Neal (ankle), guard Shane Lemieux (groin) and linebacker Micah McFadden (ankle) are all active despite being listed as questionable.

Oct. 15, 9:00 a.m.
Though the Giants will be without starting quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) for their matchup against the Bills, it’s looking more and more likely that they’ll have one of their top playmakers back.
According to multiple reports, Big Blue is ‘optimistic’ that running back Saquon Barkley will be able to return for the team’s Sunday night game in Buffalo.
Barkley, who had been listed as questionable, has missed the past three games after suffering a high-ankle sprain in a Week 2 win over the Cardinals.
Tight-end Darren Waller is also expected to play, despite heading into Sunday’s matchup with a questionable tag due to a lingering hamstring injury.

Oct. 13, 2:45 p.m.
The injury report is crowded for the Giants ahead of Sunday night’s game on the road in Buffalo.
In addition to ruling out five players earlier on Friday, New York has listed seven players as questionable including running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) and tight end Darren Waller (groin), but both players were limited participants in practice on both Thursday and Friday.
There were two players listed as questionable who did not participate on Friday after being limited on Thursday, defensive lineman DJ Davidson (knee) and offensive tackle Evan Neal (ankle).
Guard Shane Lemieux (groin) and linebacker Micah McFadden (ankle) both have the questionable tag after being limited in practice all week. Running back Gary Brightwell (ankle) returned to practice Friday after not participating on Thursday.

Oct. 13, 12:04 p.m.
After ruling out quarterback Daniel Jones for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Brian Daboll ruled out four other Giants on Friday.
Offensive tackles Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and Matt Peart (shoulder), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (shoulder) will all not feature, the head coach said.
Daboll was noncommittal on the status of running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), saying “we’ll see after” Friday’s practice, but “he’s closer” to playing this week than last week.

Oct. 12, 3:34 p.m.
While Daniel Jones didn’t practice on Thursday, running back Saquon Barkley was on the practice field. And although he didn’t get into whether or not he’d be ready to play on Sunday night against Buffalo, he did say that he was feeling better this week compared to weeks prior.
“I feel like I’m trending every week… but when you have injuries, sometimes it takes time, and like I said, been listening to the trainers and come in here and do everything I can and take it day by day,” Barkley said.
He added: “Each week has been trending upwards and I feel way better this Wednesday and Thursday than I did in the past.”

Oct. 12, 12:47 p.m.
Daniel Jones, who is dealing with a neck injury, will miss practice again on Thursday after also being out on Wednesday.
Reference

John Smith

ohn Smith is your NFL insider, providing in-depth coverage of football’s biggest league. With a passion for the game and a keen eye for statistics, John delivers game analysis, player profiles, and breaking news to keep readers updated on all things NFL.