Instead of a swing tackle, the Giants might keep Josh Ezeudu and Evan Neal on opposite ends of a seesaw.
One year ago, disaster struck when stud left tackle Andrew Thomas injured his ankle on the first drive of the season and missed the next seven games as the offensive line crumbled to historical lows.
General manager Joe Schoen cites Thomas’ injury as the point where the season turned for the worse.
So, what’s the plan if Thomas or right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is removed Sunday against the Vikings?
The Giants could ask Ezeudu to play on either side like a swing tackle, or treat Ezeudu as a backup left tackle and Neal as a backup right tackle, or (if Thomas is out) ask Eluemunor to move to left tackle and sub in a new right tackle.
Ezeudu was first up in Thomas’ absence last year but struggled mightily without more than two weeks’ practice time at the position.
He allowed 11 pressures and five sacks in his first four starts.
“I’m extremely more comfortable now,” Ezeudu said. “I have way more confidence because I’ve been playing it for the past year.”
Some critics think the Giants should move Ezeudu back to guard — where he played as a rookie in 2022 and through training camp last season — but the internal belief is that he is a tackle.
“I consider myself both a guard and tackle,” Ezeudu said. “Honestly, I feel like I can do whatever the team needs. I was playing right tackle, left tackle and left guard all in the same game in college [at North Carolina]. That’s a good thing I was doing that then because I feel fine on either side. It’s not easy to do.”
Ezeudu missed the final 11 games of last season with a toe injury. Neal, who started at right tackle the last two seasons, missed the final seven with an ankle injury.
Neal was a dominant left tackle at Alabama — leading to his selection at No. 7 in the 2022 draft — but hasn’t taken a snap outside of right tackle in the NFL.
Asking him to be the swing tackle is a tall order, especially after he was slow to return from offseason surgery.
“I haven’t played [left tackle] in a long time, so there might be some rust, but I can do it,” Neal said. “When my opportunity comes, I’m eager for it and embracing it. Right now, I’m just embracing my role and doing what I can to give guys a good look on scout team and get better myself.”
Neal has allowed 10 sacks in 20 career games.
But he gives the bench an option that it didn’t have last year.
“I’d say we are in a better position [to handle adversity] now,” Neal said. “Everyone is more experienced.”
The Giants did not list any players as questionable or doubtful on the final injury report of the week. OLB Brian Burns (ankle) was added as a limited practice participant in Friday’s practice.
Safety Dane Belton, QB Drew Lock (abdomen), LB Micah McFadden (groin) and PR Gunner Olszewski (groin) remained limited.
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It’s as healthy as the Giants have started a season in several years, even with LB D’yontae Johnson and C Austin Schlottman on injured reserve.
Vikings WR Jordan Addison (ankle) was cleared to play.
The Giants released TE/FB Jakob Johnson for the third time in two weeks, giving his practice squad spot to recently released LB Carter Coughlin because the NFL limits the number of vested veterans allowed on the practice squad.
Coughlin is expected to be elevated to play Sunday.
