The Giants’ odds of sacking the quarterback increased just as their odds of protecting Daniel Jones against a pass rush decreased.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas will not play Monday against the Seahawks after suffering a setback in his hamstring recovery during Thursday’s practice, but outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari is expected to return from a two-game absence, according to head coach Brian Daboll.
Daboll revealed before Saturday’s practice that Thomas “wasn’t feeling right” during individual drills earlier this week. Without Thomas, Josh Ezeudu is expected to make a third straight start at left tackle, along with (left to right) Ben Bredeson, John Michael Schmitz, Marcus McKethan and Evan Neal.
Ezeudu, who practiced at guard during training camp, caught the Giants’ eye before the 2022 draft as a left tackle at North Carolina against Jets’ first-round pick Jermaine Johnson of Florida State.
“We found, ‘This is something the kid can do, this is a role we need, let’s put him in that position as opposed to force-feeding someone else,’ ” offensive line coach Bobby Johnson said.
Azeez Ojulari Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTDaboll referred to Thomas’ status as “week-to-week” but ruled out a stint on injured reserve (minimum three-game absence).
“We want to make sure the player is ready to go and can do the necessary rehab,” Daboll said. “Whether he’ll be ready next week, I’m not sure.”
Ojulari could provide a boost to a defense that has just two sacks, 16 pressures and the lowest quarterback-hurry rate in the NFL (2.1 percent of dropbacks).
“He does a good job of rushing the passer,” Daboll said, “but we have to play good team defense in order to get to some of those situations.”
Andrew Thomas (l.) will miss another game for the Giants on Monday night. Bill Kostroun/New York PostOjulari has 13.5 career sacks in 25 games over a hamstring-plagued career.
“I’m good to go,” Ojulari told The Post. “I’m excited to get back to work. It’s been devastating the last couple weeks, but it happened and all I could do is stay positive. It’s fixed now.”
After making 30 catches in 12 games as a rookie starter, TE Daniel Bellinger has just two on two targets in three games behind offseason acquisition Darren Waller.
“A real tight end is a run-blocker, pass threat and a pass-protector,” tight ends coach Andy Bischoff said. “He’s a real tight end — and he’s a real teammate. Not even one ounce of a flinch from this guy at any moment. No selfishness. All team. You see it every day in the meetings and in his performance on the field. He loves the teammate Darren is to him.”
DTs Dexter Lawrence (48) and Leonard Williams (44) are averaging far fewer snaps than they were last season, when both were in the 65-play-per-game range. Williams was fined $16,391 for his roughing the passer penalty against the 49ers. OLB Jihad Ward’s pockets are $8,139 lighter after a facemask penalty.
“That allows them to not be fatigued in the fourth quarter, so I’ve been very pleased with what those guys have done so far,” defensive line coach Andre Patterson said.
“Part of it is we go into the game and I say, ‘I’m only going to give you X number of plays and then I’m rolling you.’ Another part of it is a feel. I can tell in Dex’s mannerisms and Leo’s mannerisms when they need [a breather]. And they feel comfortable that they have a signal they give me, and I give them a signal back saying, ‘One more play,’ and they just have to gear it up for one more play.”
DT A’Shawn Robinson and 49ers LT Trent Williams received matching $11,473 fines for fighting. Trent Williams threw a punch but was not ejected because officials claimed the evidence wasn’t clear.






