Notebook: ‘A constant battle’ between Brian Burns and Andrew Thomas

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – NFL coaches relentlessly watch practice tape to evaluate players, plays and schemes. But sometimes they are also entertained by what they see on the screen.

That’s exactly what happens when the Giants’ coaches review the daily tussles between left tackle Andrew Thomas and edge rusher Brian Burns.

“Man, that’s a fun matchup to watch,” coach Brian Daboll said today. “Those guys go at it. They make each other better. They’re both really good football players, so I think it helps us as a team.”

It certainly helps each player, who are among the best in the NFL at their positions.

Burns, the 16^th overall selection of the 2019 NFL Draft, was acquired for two draft choices in a trade with Carolina on March 13. A two-time Pro Bowler, he had 46.0 sacks in five seasons with the Panthers, including a career-high 12.5 in 2022.

The Giants secured Thomas with the fourth choice in the 2020 draft. He was a second-team all-pro two years ago before his 2023 season was gutted by a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven games.

Now the two elite players challenge each other every day, and the competition will ramp up tomorrow when the Giants practice in full pads for the first time.

“It’s definitely great when you have a player like that to go against because they push you to stay on your P’s and Q’s, and I think we’re making each other better,” Thomas said after their morning skirmish today. “I’m just working my craft every day. He’s pushed me to be better and I think I’m helping him to be a better player as well.”

Burns enjoys the challenges Thomas presents.

“It’s been a constant battle between me and him,” Burns said. “I embrace the opportunity. Ever since he got back, because you know he wasn’t practicing in the beginning of OTAs, but ever since he got back, I’ve been on his side. We’re definitely going to get each other better. Today, he kind of got me a little pissed off. He edged me out today. So, tomorrow we got a battle. We got to get that back, for sure.”

Yesterday, Burns got the best of Thomas on one play, using an inside move to give him a clear path to Daniel Jones on what became an incomplete pass to Wan’Dale Robinson.

“You never want to lose as an offensive lineman,” Thomas said. “But I think the time in practice is the time when you want it to happen. You don’t want it to happen on Sunday.”