Giants open 2025 camp with Russell Wilson at QB, but All-Pro Andrew Thomas lands on the PUP list. Can the team overcome this early setback and low expectations?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The wait is over. The New York Giants officially opened 2025 training camp on Wednesday, and the storylines are already writing themselves. While fans got their first look at Russell Wilson taking snaps as the presumptive starter, the biggest news came from the trainer's room, with All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas landing on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he continues his recovery from Lisfranc surgery.
ESPN ranked the Giants roster 27th in the NFL, noting that new additions have not significantly improved their league standing.
The Giants are taking a cautious approach with their cornerstone tackle. Placing Andrew Thomas on the PUP list was expected, but it underscores how critical his health is to the team's success. The goal remains getting him ready for Week 1 against Washington, but his absence opens the door for Jermain Eluemunor to get significant reps. Joining Thomas on the PUP list is running back Eric Gray, while OLB Victor Dimukeje was placed on the non-football injury list. To bolster the secondary, the team signed veteran safety K'Von Wallace, providing depth behind new starter Jevon Holland.
While the injury report set the day's agenda, the long-term focus is squarely on the quarterback room. Russell Wilson is the guy, as confirmed by ESPN's projected starting lineup. However, the presence of first-round pick Jaxson Dart and veteran Jameis Winston creates a fascinating dynamic. Every throw will be scrutinized as the team evaluates not just its present, but its future at the most important position. The offense around the QB features exciting new weapons like rookie receiver Malik Nabers and tight end Theo Johnson, but the pressure is on Wilson to elevate a unit that has struggled for years.
Beyond the QB spot, camp is about forging a new identity. On defense, the pass rush is poised for a major boost with the additions of Brian Burns and first-round pick Abdul Carter, who is expected to make an immediate impact alongside Kayvon Thibodeaux. These additions create a logjam at edge rusher, putting players on the roster bubble. Key competitions are heating up for the WR2 spot opposite Nabers, with Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton in the mix, and for roles in the defensive backfield. For players like Greg Dulcich and Bryce Ford-Wheaton, every rep counts as the August 26 cut-down deadline looms.
Despite the offseason moves, national perception remains low. ESPN's 27th-place roster ranking serves as bulletin board material for a team looking to compete in what many see as a wide-open NFC East. For now, every team is 0-0. The journey to defy expectations begins with these practices and continues through the preseason slate, which kicks off August 9 against the Buffalo Bills before matchups with the Jets and Patriots. These games will be the ultimate test for the rookies, the bubble players, and the new-look offense.
Wednesday marked day one of a long journey. The key questions are now on the table: Can Andrew Thomas get healthy? Is Russell Wilson the answer at quarterback? And can the host of new faces, from Malik Nabers to Abdul Carter, elevate this team from the bottom tier of the league? The answers will unfold over the next six weeks, culminating in a Week 1 showdown in Washington that will provide the first real measure of this team's progress.
