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Giants’ Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor Have ‘Good Chance’ to Protect J.J. McCarthy vs. Texans
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- Giants’ Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor Have ‘Good Chance’ to Protect J.J. McCarthy vs. Texans
J.J. McCarthy may not have a chance to succeed in his first start in a New York Giants uniform if Andrew Thomas or Jermaine Eluemunor can't suit up Sunday.
Fortunately, Giants coach John Harbaugh said Thomas, the team's starting left tackle, and Eluemunor, who plays right tackle, "have a good chance" to play against the Houston Texans .
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Thomas has been nursing a groin injury, though he did not carry an injury distinction after practice Friday. Eluemunor is trying to avoid missing a second straight game due to a calf injury, and his backup, Marcus Mbow, is also listed as questionable with a knee injury.
Jermaine Eluemunor, Andrew Thomas Have a 'Good Chance' to Play
The Giants will need both tackles Sunday, since Houston is tied for third in the NFL in sacks, keyed by NFL sack leader Will Anderson Jr.
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Luckily, both practiced Friday and are trending toward playing, according to Harbaugh.
"If those guys are able, and it looks like based on today's practice, that they should have a good chance to be ready to go," Harbaugh said. "That will be really important."
Anderson, the No. 3 pick of the 2023 NFL draft, is one of the fiercest pass rushers in the league. He has the second-best grade from Pro Football Focus (91.1) among 115 edge rushers — Giants edge Abdul Carter is third — and had three sacks against the Tennessee Titans in Houston's 26-3 win Oct. 11.
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Anderson also is complemented nicely by veteran edge rusher Danielle Hunter. Hunter has three sacks this season, and each is high on the list of factors for the Giants game plan.
"No. 51 (Anderson) (and) No. 55 (Hunter) (are) two of the best in the league, two of the most high energy, and they're both a little different," Harbaugh said. "Each got their own style, but we played them a lot. We understand what they can do in a game."
The Texans Have Jadeveon Clowney Too
Not only do the Texans have elite bookend edge rushers, they also have Jadeveon Clowney, the top pick of the 2014 draft, playing the role of prodigal son.
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Clowney signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract Aug. 2 with the team that drafted him, and Houston became his seventh team in the past eight seasons. But Clowney, who will turn 34 on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 14), can still play, boasting 1.5 sacks in four games.
Clowney somehow does not have a double-digit sack season over his 13-year career. But he can still make life tough on an opposing offense.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
