Giants restructure Andrew Thomas’ contract in vote of confidence despite injuries

Andrew Thomas’ status for Week 1 still is murky, but the Giants made a big statement Thursday about their stud left tackle’s future. 

The Giants restructured Thomas’ contract to create $12.2 million of needed salary cap space in 2025, as first reported by ESPN. It was a maximum restructure that adds $3 million of dead money to his cap hits over each of the remaining four years on his contract. 

Hours later, Thomas was not on the field for practice as the Giants “backed off him” — as previously planned, according to head coach Brian Daboll — following his most intensive practice since returning two weeks ago from last October’s foot surgery. He was “limited” in Wednesday’s practice. 

“He did some stuff. Looked good,” Daboll said, keeping the window open that Thomas could play Sunday against the Commanders. “See what he does [Friday].” 

The Giants were in need of a restructure to become salary cap compliant by today’s start of the regular season. They now have $3.4 million in space — more than only the Raiders and Bills — according to NFLPA records. 

But general manager Joe Schoen could have just as easily restructured Dexter Lawrence II’s contract — albeit for slightly less cap space — instead of Thomas’ contract. Schoen mostly has avoided risking adding dead money to the future by tinkering with contracts of injury-prone players. 

By altering Thomas’ five-year, $117 million contract running through 2029, it is a vote of confidence that the Giants remain committed to their 2022 Second-Team All-Pro. 

Thomas has missed 18 games due to injury over the past two seasons and is in jeopardy of not playing Sunday against the Commanders as he continues to recover from surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury. NFL history has shown that 300-pounders with foot injuries typically do not age gracefully. 

Thomas, 26, remains one of the NFL’s best left tackles when healthy, and the Giants’ mostly fruitless decade-long search for offensive linemen is a cautionary tale about giving up on talent. Still, Thomas did not take an 11-on-11 rep during the preseason and the Giants could have to open the season with James Hudson III protecting Russell Wilson’s blind side. 

Thomas remains the only Giant listed on the injury report. 

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Did Gunner Olszewski win the punt returner job over Ihmir Smith-Marsette based on special teams or because of his receiver ability? 

Olszewksi had a punt return touchdown for the Giants in 2023, but missed all last season with a groin injury and Smith-Marsette stepped in and shined. 

“I think he has a lot of versatility,” second-year special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “He obviously did some good things offensively in the preseason, but he also did some good stuff for us returning even before I got here. He’s a proven returner that’s done it at a high level, and he had a good camp.” 

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While no special-teamer was voted among the five co-captains, Ghobrial isn’t worried about a leadership void. Kicker Graham Gano and long snapper Casey Kreiter are both former captains. 

“Just because they were not voted captains doesn’t mean they’re restricted from speaking up,” Ghobrial said. “I think those guys never get deterred. When they have to say something, they say something.” 

Ghobrial also singled out Olszewski, Chris Manhertz, Chris Board and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles as leaders.