Andrew Thomas’ season-ending foot surgery this week left an opening at left offensive tackle for the New York Giants. It’s been a guessing game on how the Giants will fill the hole in their line.
Will Thomas’ backup, Joshua Ezeudu, step into the vacancy?
Might right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor flip sides, with Evan Neal returning to his old spot in the starting lineup?
Or could Neal return to the field at left tackle, a position he played at Alabama but hasn’t in the NFL?
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How about none of the above?
On Friday, the Giants announced the signing of offensive tackle Chris Hubbard from the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad for New York’s active roster. Hubbard practiced with the Giants on Friday.
“We’ll put him into the mix,” Daboll said. “I don’t think he’ll necessarily be ready after one day.”
Hubbard spent the first six weeks of this season on the 49ers’ practice squad without appearing in a game.
Daboll said New York would decide after practice on Friday who’ll play which tackle spot against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Hubbard has played in 100 NFL games – 94 regular-season and six postseason – since entering the NFL from UAB as an undrafted rookie in 2013.
Hubbard has started 58 NFL games – 51 at right tackle, four at right guard and three as an extra lineman in lieu of a tight end.
Hubbard started nine of the Tennessee Titans’ first 10 games at right offensive tackle in 2023 before a biceps injury ended his season prematurely.
Hubbard played all 1,091 of Cleveland’s offensive snaps at right tackle in 2018 as he started 39 NFL games from 2017 through 2019.
But he has battled injuries since then. He finished the 2020 season on injured reserve after hurting his knee in his fifth start of the campaign, played in only one game in 2021 because of a torn triceps muscle and played in four games in 2022 while dealing with an elbow injury before last season’s biceps injury.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
