Andrew Thomas will be active for the Giants in Houston, and that matters. The left tackle has no game designation after missing Wednesday’s practice with a groin issue and then practicing on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.
That is good news for a team trying to settle in around J.J. McCarthy, who is set to make the start.
But Thomas being cleared doesn’t magically solve the Giants’ protection picture. Jermaine Eluemunor and Marcus Mbow are still questionable, which leaves some real uncertainty on the other side of the line.
Thomas gives the offense a better chance to function. He does not remove the need to build a plan around the spots that still need help.
That’s where the challenge comes in against Houston. The Texans have given up 498 rushing yards on 145 carries, which comes out to 3.4 yards per attempt. That is not the kind of defense that invites a team to lean on the ground game and assume it will keep the quarterback out of trouble all afternoon.
Cam Skattebo has 294 yards on 81 carries, or 3.6 per try, and those numbers say the Giants can still find runs worth taking. They just don’t point toward a game plan built on the idea that running the ball will automatically erase the Texans’ strengths.
The smarter approach is balance with a clear purpose: give McCarthy throws he can handle, know where the answer is when pressure shows up and direct protection help to the matchup that actually needs it. Thomas being in the lineup makes that easier, but it doesn’t make the decisions go away.
His availability is the headline. His two limited practices are part of the picture too. Neither one says his groin is perfect, and neither one suggests the Giants should ask him to handle every tough assignment without support.
The early passing game should be kept simple enough for McCarthy to know where the ball is going before the rush gets there. That doesn’t mean the Giants have to shrink the whole playbook. It means choosing their shots instead of hoping the line can buy time on every snap.
There’s still room to run when Houston shows a lighter box or when the Giants create a real advantage up front. The point is to react to what the defense gives them, not to let a season-long tendency call the next play for them.
If the early runs stall, the Giants need the kind of pass that keeps the offense on schedule before McCarthy is staring at another third-and-long. Protecting him means letting him make a normal first-down throw, with the extra help lined up where it’s actually needed.
In Other News...
Giants Are Betting Big On A QB Trait Winston Couldnt Offer
J.J. McCarthy arrived in New York with the kind of arm talent that can change the feel of an offense before he even takes a snap. After a difficult run with the Vikings, he has landed with the Giants, and the early word from teammates and people around him is that the deep ball is the trait that stands out most. Even after some statistical issues on throws downfield last season, McCarthys physical gifts give New York a different kind of passing threat than it had before.
For a Giants offense that has been looking for ways to stress defenses beyond the short game, that matters. McCarthys arm strength and athletic ability open doors the team simply did not have with Jameis Winston, and the staff is weighing how much of that can be built into the plan. The next question is how far the Giants are willing to go in leaning into those possibilities, especially if they want to make the most of what McCarthy can do outside the pocket. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Backfield Suddenly Feels Like A Problem They Can't Ignore
With the Giants trying to steady themselves before a matchup with the Texans, the problems are piling up in every phase, from penalties to the broader offensive unease that has followed J.J. McCarthy into his first start. John Harbaugh and Matt Nagy have already talked about making adjustments, and the backfield is part of that conversation now, especially with Cam Skattebo set to rejoin the mix after working through the issues that pushed him to take a hard look at his approach.
The timing matters because this is no longer just about cleaning up a depth chart or getting through one game. The Giants are weighing whether the current group is enough to stabilize a sputtering offense, and league chatter is starting to connect their running back situation to bigger possibilities as the Nov. 10 deadline approaches. For a team already searching for answers, the next move at that spot could say a lot about how urgently they see the problem. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Tough Tight End Decision To Make
The Giants tight end room got a little thinner on the practice report, with Chris Manhertz missing work because of a calf injury and Theo Johnson still limited as he deals with a neck issue. That left the team looking closely at its remaining options, especially with Thomas Fidone II back on the field as a full participant despite a shoulder designation.
Fidone is still listed fourth on the depth chart, and he has yet to make his mark in the passing game, but the coaching staff appears open to using him in a limited receiving role to get a better read on what he can bring. No changes have been announced to snap counts or play calls, so the situation remains fluid as the Giants sort through a position group that suddenly feels much less settled. [Read more 🡒]