Giants could shuffle O-line again after latest Joshua Ezeudu experiment fails

In the first taste of navigating without Andrew Thomas in 2024, the results went just about as expected for a Giants group losing its staple on the offensive line.And it could lead to more experimenting. Joshua Ezeudu, who earned the start and his first 58 snaps at left tackle this season, allowed two sacks and three pressures.

The line, as a unit, allowed eight sacks in their 28-3 loss to the Eagles.And with the Giants searching for any sort of answer or spark or consistency to save a sinking season, head coach Brian Daboll didn’t commit to starting Ezeudu in Thomas’ spot for a second consecutive week during his press conference Monday. “We’ll have that discussion here,” Daboll said.

“We’ve watched the tape.We’re not there yet.

I thought that early on, there was a couple plays in there — one off of a jam, and another one — that could’ve been better.I think he settled in. “It was his first time playing, so there’s some things he did better as the game went on and made some improvements and we’ll see where we’re at here.” If Thomas’ five-year extension in July 2023 didn’t illustrate his significance to the Giants, they got a glimpse of what could happen without his presence last season — when he missed Weeks 2-8 with a hamstring injury and Daboll reshuffled his line.

Ezeudu started five of those games before getting injured.Justin Pugh, signed off the couch, was then thrust into a starting spot for the other two, before shifting back to left guard for nearly all of his snaps the rest of the year once Thomas returned. With Ezeudu still Thomas’ backup, the Giants turned to the third-year lineman when Thomas’ 2024 season ended following foot surgery last week.

Early in the first quarter Sunday, though, Josh Sweat tore around the left side of the line, won his matchup with Ezeudu and dropped Daniel Jones to force an early punt.Then, later in the quarter, Nolan Smith Jr.

pushed Ezeudu back until he reached Jones and dra...