Brian Daboll joked that he took a picture to commemorate the occasion.
The Giants’ projected starting offensive line finally practiced together as a unit Tuesday for the first time since training camp began due to various injuries.
“[Daboll] did that during the walk-through today, and that was kind of funny,” starting left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “It’s great to have everybody back. We need these reps. I think we have like seven or eight practices before the first game. So we need every rep we can get.”
After the Giants line allowed 85 sacks last season — the most in the NFL since 1986 — the team signed veteran left guard Jon Runyan and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor as free agents and then added right guard Greg Van Roten early in training camp to complement Thomas and second-year center John Michael Schmitz.
Thomas, who missed seven games last season after being named second-team All-Pro in 2022, believes there is enough time for the group to come together before the season opener Sept. 8 against the Vikings.
“I think so. I think we have a good room, a lot of veterans, which I think helps,” Thomas said. “John Michael, it’s his second year in this system, so I think he’ll do a good job for us.”
Asked if he’d noticed that the line hadn’t practiced together previously, Thomas replied. “I noticed. It’s 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. … We have some veteran guys who have played a lot of ball in this league, so I think we’ll have a good group up front.”
Former first-round pick Evan Neal, who missed much of camp with an injury, will open the season as a backup.
Thomas and Daniel Jones were named offensive captains, with Dexter Lawrence and Bobby Okereke representing the defense and long snapper Casey Kreiter representing the special teams.
The Giants had named 10 captains at the start of the 2023 season.
“Every year is a different year. Every team’s a new team. I think the best fit for our team this year was the five captains,” Okereke said. “Great guys who have different leadership styles, different experiences and wisdom, and I think we’ll do a great job.”
Returner Gunner Olszewski, and linebackers Micah McFadden, Matthew Adams and D’yontae Johnson worked on the side with trainers.
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