The Giants might be on the verge of getting 655 kilos of reinforcements to stabilize their offensive line.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and right tackle Evan Neal (ankle) are listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Raiders but finished the practice week trending in the suitable direction.
Thomas has missed seven straight games, while Neal has missed the last two.
“That is essentially the most I’ve done, this [Friday] practice that we just had,” Thomas said. “If it responds well, I feel I’ll have likelihood.”
Neal sounded equally optimistic.
“I feel really good,” Neal told The Post. “I took half of the reps and didn’t have any setbacks, so it was definitely promising.”
The timing of the 2 tackles returning to 11-on-11 reps this week fortuitously aligns with the return of quarterback Daniel Jones, who took 28 sacks and 44 hits in five games before missing the last three with a neck injury.
“They’ve had good days,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “I feel they’re making progress, getting close.”
If Thomas can play, it is going to be the primary time that the Giants have their best offensive linemen, Jones and top playmaker Saquon Barkley all together because the third quarter of the season-opener.
“The hard part about it’s, it could feel great and one little thing can tweak,” Thomas said. “The trainers are ensuring I’m fully able to go. Obviously, I need to be back on the market, but I don’t wish to hurt it again.”
Thomas’ return likely implies that Justin Pugh can return to his natural position (left guard) after playing the last two-plus games at left tackle.
The very best-five combination probably is (left to right) Thomas, Pugh, John Michael Schmitz, Mark Glowinski and Neal.
“It’s going to be awesome having the starters on the market,” Neal said. “The fans wish to see that, everybody within the locker room desires to see that. It looks like it’s been too long since we had our set group on the market.”
Guard/center Ben Bredeson (seven starts) and guard/tackle Tyre Phillips (began the last two games) remain options since the Giants have learned this season that chaos strikes suddenly.
“We’ve sort of mixed and matched a bunch of men,” Daboll said.
Rookie CB Deonte Banks is expecting to be busy each time he’s matched up against Raiders WR Davante Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler who has voiced frustrations about his role after making two catches or less in two of the last three games.
Recent offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree may be sensible to call Adams’ number more incessantly.
“You might have to expect quite a lot of targets, especially out of a game where he was targeted a bunch and only had one catch,” Banks told The Post. “He’s real smooth in his movements, real quick, real precise — and he makes all the pieces look the identical.”
QB Tyrod Taylor (rib cage) and TE Darren Waller (hamstring) were ruled out.
RB Jashaun Corbin (hamstring) is questionable.
