Evan Neal is back in the starting lineup. After playing a grand total of two snaps over the first nine games of the 2024 season, the Giants are deploying Neal at right tackle for today’s Week 10 bout against the Panthers, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com details. Jermaine Eluemunor will line up at left tackle.
New York selected Neal with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2022 draft, though his performance over his first two years in the pros did not align with his draft status. During that time, the Alabama product started 20 games and struggled mightily, finishing as the second-worst OT in the league in each season in the estimation of Pro Football Focus’ metrics.
In Week 9 of the 2023 campaign, Neal suffered what was initially believed to be a sprained ankle, but follow-up testing became necessary after he did not heal as expected. The additional examination revealed a broken foot that required surgery, and he spent the first several weeks of this year’s training camp on the PUP list. Eluemunor, who was initially signed to compete for guard duties, built some momentum for the starting RT gig in Neal’s absence, and since the Giants quickly abandoned the notion of having Neal line up at guard, the third-year blocker landed in a reserve role.
Even when left tackle Andrew Thomas was lost for the season due to a foot injury of his own, New York opted to keep Eluemunor on the right side while giving LT reps first to Joshua Ezeudu and then to recent signee Chris Hubbard (Neal has not been considered a legitimate option for game action on the blind side). But there is a reason Hubbard was available to be signed off the 49ers’ practice squad in October, and he did not play particularly well during his two-game audition with Big Blue. It therefore makes sense for a 2-7 Giants club to see if Neal can begin living up to his potential at RT. Indeed, the team did not consider trading Neal in advance of this year’s deadline.
Although Neal is eligible for a new contract at season’s end, even an outstanding performance down the stretch of the 2024 campaign would likely not be enough for the New York front office (regardless of who is leading it) to make such a move. However, a strong showing could at least encourage the club to exercise Neal’s fifth-year option.
Carolina, another 2-7 outfit, represented a logical opponent for Neal’s first extensive 2024 work, as the Panthers’ edge defenders are not a particularly imposing group.