If Saquon Barkley is able to make it onto the field for the Giants’ game against the Dolphins on Sunday, he will be running behind a severely weakened offensive line. The Giants have listed Barkley as questionable due to a high ankle sprain, but they have already ruled out three offensive linemen who have started games this season: left tackle Andrew Thomas with a hamstring injury, center John Michael Schmitz with a shoulder injury, and left guard Shane Lemieux with a groin injury.
“It’s not the best feeling when you work all offseason to be healthy and contribute, and then you can’t,” said Thomas.
Barkley’s status has been improving each week, but he still appeared limited during Friday’s practice, putting his availability for a third straight game in jeopardy. Head coach Brian Daboll stated that Barkley has been able to cut laterally in practice and has made progress, but they will continue to monitor his situation.
While there is some uncertainty surrounding Barkley, there is more clarity on the state of the offensive line, and it is discouraging. Matt Peart is the only healthy backup currently available, and he may be joined by Jalen Mayfield and/or Jaylon Thomas from the practice squad. The offensive line, consisting of Josh Ezeudu, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson, Marcus McKethan, and Evan Neal, was responsible for allowing a near-franchise record 11 sacks and the most quarterback pressures in the NFL last week.
Thomas explained that during games, he tries to be another set of eyes for the offensive line. He looks for ways to offer assistance with technique or identifying safety rotations, but he doesn’t want to make things harder for his teammates by yelling and screaming. He understands the pressures and challenges they face and wants to be as helpful as possible.
Reflecting on his decision to continue playing in the Week 1 loss to the Cowboys after his early injury, Thomas is unsure if it did more harm than good. However, he has no regrets about his effort and always aims to stay on the field until he is pulled out.
Tight end Daniel Bellinger (knee) and linebacker Micah McFadden (ankle) are both listed as questionable for the upcoming game. McFadden sustained his injury during Thursday’s practice, while Bellinger’s absence could have a significant impact on the usage of Darren Waller in blocking and receiving roles.
In a twist of fate, on January 28, 2022, the Dolphins requested a second interview with Daboll for their head coaching vacancy. However, within a few hours, Daboll was hired as the Giants’ head coach, and the Dolphins turned to Mike McDaniel instead. When asked about that chaotic time, Daboll expressed gratitude towards the Dolphins for the opportunity to interview but emphasized his focus on the upcoming game.
The Giants recently played against the San Francisco 49ers, where McDaniel worked under head coach Kyle Shanahan. If the offenses are similar, the Giants can potentially carry over some defensive teachings from that game to their matchup against the Dolphins.
Daboll acknowledged that he has learned a lot from the coaches he has worked with in the past and believes that McDaniel adds his own twist to the offensive strategies. While there may be some similarities between the two teams’ offenses, Daboll recognizes the uniqueness of each coach’s approach.
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