New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll knows: “You can’t replace Andrew Thomas,” the team’s star left tackle who will likely miss the rest of the 2024 season due to surgery for a Lisfranc injury.

“I feel terrible for him,” Daboll said before Wednesday’s practice. “I was able to text him today. He had surgery this morning. Everything was successful. But he is a leader. He’s a captain. He’s great in the locker room. He is a very good football player.”

However, the Giants will need to use someone at Thomas’ left tackle position on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. So who will that be?

While Daboll said the final decision wouldn’t be made until after Friday’s practice, it certainly sounded like it would likely be Josh Ezeudu.

The third-year offensive lineman, who struggled mightily a year ago while making five starts in place of Thomas, was expected to be with the first team at left tackle during Wednesday’s practice.

“We’re going to use Ezeudu here on the left side and then rotate the guys throughout the week,” Daboll said. “Ultimately we will make our decision after training on Friday.”

The other option is to move veteran tackle Jermaine Eluemunor from right tackle to left tackle and place Evan Neal at right tackle.

“I think we’ll just do what we think is best,” Daboll said. “I think it’s always easy to just replace one person, but you want to make sure you do the right thing for the team because the team did a good job, the five guys that played.

“I know they haven’t taken many snaps leading up to the games but they’ve been settling in and communicating really well and that’s going to be a big missing piece with Andrew but the next person has to step in high, just like Azeez (Ojulari) had to do that for Kayvon, just like (Darius) Slayton had to do that for Malik (Nabers).

“That’s the expectation of being on the football team and being ready when your number is called.”

Ezeudu gave up five sacks and 12 total pressures in 181 pass-blocking snaps last season and finished the year with a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 95.0, according to Pro Football Focus. That ranked him 65th among 86 qualified offensive tackles rated by PFF in 2023.

Ezeudu was asked to play left wing last season, although he trained as a guard in the spring and summer. This year he has spent most of his time working as an understudy to Thomas’ left tackle.

“He’s improved, albeit in practice, in tackles, in exhibition team, in the reps he gets for Andrew or whoever we put him for,” Daboll said. “I think (OL coach) Carm (Bricillo) and James (Ferentz) have done a good job in his development.

“He won’t be Andrew. He’s going to be Ezeudu, and just like Evan, he’s going to be Evan, but with all the younger players there’s been improvement in a lot of areas and that’s what it has to be, regardless of the position.”

As for Neal, Daboll said there is “potential” the No. 7 overall pick in 2022 could get some practice time at left tackle, but “we’re going to focus him on the right side now and continue to help develop him.” Game.”

It could be seen as a damning assessment of Neal that the Giants don’t automatically turn to him when a tackle opens up. So what has Daboll seen since Neal returned from offseason ankle surgery?

“He’s developing. His attitude was excellent. I think his skills have improved compared to the technique and fundamentals that James and Carmen train,” Daboll said. “He has the right attitude. He has been a good teammate throughout the entire process and when his number is called he will do everything he can to be ready to play.”