MUNICH — It took the Giants a trip out of the country for Evan Neal to get back onto the field in a starting role.
It is believed Neal will make his first start this season at right tackle for Sunday’s game with the Panthers at Allianz Arena.
That means Jermaine Eluemunor moves out of the right tackle spot and will start at left tackle.
Chris Hubbard, the starter at left tackle the past two games, was limited in practice this past week with an illness, but he is on the trip for this international game.
Neal, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft, has been an afterthought this season.
He has basically been glued to the bench, limited to a snap here and a snap there as an extra blocker.
He needed ankle surgery following an unproductive 2023 season.
The Giants claim he is healthy this season, but he had not convinced the coaching staff he should play.
This move to Neal has been in the works for a few weeks.
The offensive line was thrust into turmoil when left tackle Andrew Thomas went down for the season in Week 6 against the Bengals with a season-ending foot injury that required surgery.
Backup Josh Ezeudu got the first call as the replacement, starting against the Eagles.
Hubbard, a veteran signed off the 49ers practice squad, started the past two games, with limited success. Hubbard is healthy and ready to play, but he is expected to be benched, with Neal getting a shot.
Eluemunor has started NFL games at left tackle but said recently he preferred to stay on the right side. It looks at if that will not be the case for this game.
