How could the New York Giants replace LT Andrew Thomas?

Head coach Brian Daboll did not provide an update Monday on the status of star left tackle Andrew Thomas, who limped through Sunday night's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and was scheduled to undergo an MRI scan of his foot on Monday.

In the locker room after the game, Thomas said his foot “wasn’t great.”

By his standards, Thomas had a below-average game on Sunday. He allowed two sacks and three pressures and posted a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 94.8, according to Pro Football Focus.

Thomas did not elaborate on whether the foot injury occurred during the game against Cincinnati or whether he was dealing with it. However, Thomas isn't having a great season.

Thomas gave up four sacks, matching his season total when he was second-team All-Pro in 2022, and 16 pressures in six games. His pass-blocking efficiency rating of 95.9 is his worst since his rookie season in 2020.

Thomas struggled with hamstring and knee injuries last season, playing in just six games.

Even at less than 100%, Thomas is the Giants' best offensive player. What happens if the news the Giants get by Wednesday isn't good and the Giants need to replace Thomas in the lineup? So far this season, the Giants offensive line has been together on every snap.

What would it look like without Thomas? There are two options.

Josh Ezeudu at left tackle

I can imagine Giants fans screaming “Nooooooo” at the mention of this possibility.

That's what the Giants did last season after Thomas suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 that knocked him out of the lineup for seven games. Ezeudu played six games at left tackle, starting five of them.

The results were catastrophic.

Ezeudu posted an overall PFF grade of 42.4, ranking 130th out of 137 offensive tackles. His pass blocking grade of 39.3 was 121. Ezeudu's pass blocking efficiency rating of 95.0 ranked 88th.

To be fair to Ezeudu, he got into this situation after training exclusively as a guard all spring and summer while competing with Ben Bredeson and Mark Glowinski for a starting role.

If he has to step in for Thomas, Ezeudu should at least be better prepared this time. Since OTAs, he has experience at both left and right tackle.

When I talked to him during training camp, Ezeudu said that tackle is “very different than guard.”

“You have to process things a little differently,” Ezeudu said. “You also have to use your hands, a little differently.”

It's questionable whether Ezeudu, who played primarily as a guard in college at North Carolina, can thrive at tackle. However, he should have a better chance if he has to fill in this year.

Ezeudu has only played three offensive snaps so far this season.

Evan Neal at RT, Jermaine Eluemunor at LT

If the Giants decide they want to put Neal, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, on the field instead of Ezeudu, this is the alignment they must use.

The Giants have only had Neal practice at right tackle for reasons that they have not fully explained and have only vaguely answered on numerous occasions since he returned this summer from offseason ankle surgery. That's despite Daboll saying he wants his backup offensive lineman to have positional flexibility.

I spoke to Neal earlier this month and he indicated he was doing well both physically and emotionally.

“I just showed up to work every day with a positive attitude. And just work hard,” Neal said. “I just try to get better every day. I learn from the guys I watch out there. Take on the first team defense. I’m doing everything I can just to get better.”

As for the ankle, Neal said, “I'm moving well.”

Eluemunor has 422 career snaps at left tackle, including 125 last season with the Las Vegas Raiders.