The Giants are bracing for another game with overmatched offensive tackles, an undermanned receiving corps and Daniel Jones playing hot potato.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas is headed to injured reserve and will miss at least the next three games — against the Panthers, Chiefs and Raiders — because of his left foot and right ankle, according to multiple sources. Thomas had offseason surgery on his right ankle and hurt his ankle in Week 4, but his current state is a result of the ankle getting rolled in a pile-up Sunday and not a complication from the injury he played through as a rookie.
Receiver Kadarius Toney also is expected to sit out Sunday because there is real concern he could jeopardize his long-term health by doing more damage, per a source. Toney tried to play through an injured ankle last week and quickly re-aggravated it. The Giants are trying to avoid a repeat of that risk just for a short-term gain.
Whether the Giants go with Nate Solder at left tackle and Matt Peart at right tackle (as was the case Oct. 9 against the Cowboys when Thomas was sidelined) or with Peart on the left and Solder on the right (as was the case last week against the Rams when Thomas went out in the second quarter), the offensive aggressiveness changes without Thomas to protect Jones’ blind side.
Solder and Peart have combined to allow 15 pressures, including three sacks, in the last two games. If Jones again is forced to quickly get the ball out of his hands, the Giants are in trouble because some or all of these top playmakers – Toney, Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton and Saquon Barkley – will be sidelined.
“When we show a weakness, they’re going to find any way they can to use that to their advantage, just like we do every week,” Solder said. “I don’t know if it has to do with players not being there, or if it has to do with poor technique. Whatever it is, those things have to be shored up so that they don’t become blood in the water for their attacks.”
The Panthers are tied for sixth in the NFL with 16 sacks.
“We’ll get a little bit extra work this week on some different schemes that are going to come up, some things we’ve seen, some things that Carolina is going to do as well, some copycat schemes that are probably going to show up within the game,” coach Joe Judge said. “This is a different type of front we’re going to play – a penetrating defensive line.”