Giants’ Brian Daboll expects Jon Runyan Jr. back by Week 1

Editor’s note : Jon Runyan dressed and returned to practice on Thursday.

New York Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr., who signed a three-year, $30 million deal during free agency, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury for more than a week.

In recent days, head coach Brian Daboll has insisted Runyan is “close” to returning but the veteran continued to sit out during a joint practice with the New York Jets on Wednesday.

Asked before practice if Daboll had any growing concern about Runyan’s Week 1 availability, his response was blunt.

“No,” Daboll said.

The Giants will conduct their final practice of training camp on Thursday ahead of their Week 3 preseason game with the Jets on Saturday night. It’s unlikely Runyan participates in either.

With camp closing this week, the Giants’ projected starting offensive line hasn’t taken a single snap together throughout camp. However, right tackle Evan Neal now seems relegated to the reserve role with Jermaine Eluemunor assuming the starting role.

If Runyan does make it back for Week 1, he will slide in between left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz with Greg Van Roten rounding things out at right guard.

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