Giants Finally Watch First-Team Offensive Line Practice

After the grueling cut from 90 players to 53, the New York Giants’ Tuesday practice was picture-worthy. Not to celebrate the players that earned their spot or retained their captaincy , but to commemorate the impossible.

For the first time all summer, New York’s first-team offensive line practiced with each of its projected starters. From left to right, Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan Jr., John Michael Schmitz Jr., Greg Van Roten, and Jermaine Eluemunor gave the Giants its first glimpse of what’s to come as a collective up front.

It’s been a long journey to the end of August, but through injuries, position changes, and late-stage signings, the lineup is set.

Thomas reacted to this development after practice.

“Yeah, he did that on the walk-through today,” Thomas said. “It was kind of funny. We joked on John Michael a little bit just because he's young and missed some time. It's great to have everybody back. We need these reps. I think we have seven or eight practices before the first game so we need every rep we can get.”

This wasn’t what New York’s offensive line was supposed to look like. Eluemunor and Runyan were brought in to play left and right guard, respectively. First-round right tackle Evan Neal, entering Year 3, was penciled in at right tackle as the Giants hoped to kickstart his development. A delayed recovery from offseason ankle surgery would spoil those plans.

The team acted swiftly in camp, canceling Eluemunor’s pivot inside to put him back at right tackle, where he spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. He also spent last season coached by offensive line maestro Carmen Bricillo and alongside Van Roten.

Both are joining him in the Big Apple.

“I think so. I think we have a good group,” Thomas said. “A lot of veterans which I think that helps with the group. And then John Michael it's his second year in this system so just making the Mike points, I think he's going to do a good job for us.”

Neal may be temporarily out of the spotlight, but as a second-round pick, Schmitz will be tasked with taking the next step in Year 2. Frequently, units are only as strong as their weakest link. On paper, Schmitz’s rookie year earns him that title. Early returns under the Bricillo administration have been favorable.

The work’s not done. But with a higher level of competency, some coaching continuity amidst the heavy turnover, and impressive flashes from depth on the interior, Thomas is excited about what’s to come.

Related: Observation From Giants Initial 53-Man Roster

“Honestly, not much difference (compared to earlier in camp). I think that's a credit to all the guys in the room that we have,” Thomas said. “The nature of the business, guys are going to go down and we need people to come in and be able to run the ship as it was going before. So, like I said, we have some veteran guys, (that have) played a lot of ball in this league, so I think we're going to have a good group up front.”