Andrew Thomas’ Giants availability will go right down to the wire

Andrew Thomas continues to do more each day, but the decision whether the Pro Bowl left tackle will make his season debut Sunday night against the Chiefs will go right up until game time, according to head coach Brian Daboll. 

The Giants didn’t practice in full pads Thursday, but Daboll said that the plan was for Thomas to take “a lot of reps” despite being officially listed as a limited participant for the second consecutive day. 

Daboll categorized the increased workload as “a good sign” after the oft-injured tackle missed the first two games of the regular season while still recuperating from the left foot surgery he underwent last October. 

“He’s played a lot of football,” Daboll replied when asked if Thomas could play without a full practice in pads. “I’d say he took a lot of reps [Wednesday] and he’ll take a number of them today. It’s just a positive sign. 

“I think this thing will go all the way up [to game time]. After [Friday], we’ll see how he feels. He has to feel the right way, but it’s a good sign with the next step of the progression. But he felt good after doing a number of reps [Wednesday].” 

Veteran fill-in tackle James Hudson III was flagged for four penalties on the Giants’ opening drive in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, and he was replaced by rookie Marcus Mbow. 

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. had only five carries for 15 yards against Dallas, but he also contributed five kickoff five returns for 132 yards. 

“He’s a guy that obviously did it in college, and a little bit last year. … It’s one opportunity to give a guy an extra touch,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “He obviously has a skill set that’s very valuable to this team as a running back. 

“He has good top-end speed, he has good vision, so whenever you give a guy a touch like that and he’s able to have a day the way he did, it makes us very confident in him to have the ability to be used back there as a returner.” 

LBs Chauncey Golston (ankle) and Darius Muasau (concussion protocol) did not practice, but Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) returned on a limited basis, according to the Giants’ official injury report. 

WR/KR Gunner Olszewski (back), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (foot), DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot), OL Jon Runyan Jr. (back), C John Michael Schmitz (toe), WR Darius Slayton (groin/calf) and Tracy (calf) also were limited participants.