Shaq Thompson “brings a whole different demeanor”

Asked if he learned anything in the last three weeks, he replied: “Don’t take this sport for granted; it can go like that. That’s the biggest thing. Just missing your brothers. I miss playing with them.”

The 27-year-old said he thought the artificial turf in Dallas contributed to his injury, but he also took some blame for his choice in footgear. He said he was wearing the wrong insoles in his shoes, “and that’s on me.”

When he planted and cut, he could tell there was a problem, and though he continued in that game, he wasn’t himself. That’s why he was hesitant to declare himself fully back, since he’s only done “a little” of the kind of lateral movement and breaking and cutting that he does normally.

Snow already knew that not having Thompson around was a hindrance, but the point was driven home by pre-game conversations with Giants coaches about the veteran linebacker.

“I was talking to the Giants coaches, and they thought Shaq was really playing well, was physical, really a presence inside,” Snow said. “He knows the system now, he’s 237 pounds, much bigger than he was a year ago, and he’s playing that way, and he’s still playing fast. And his leadership.

“You miss Shaq in matchups, especially on third down. There’s a lot of things Shaq does for us on the football field. It’s good to have him back.”

Snow said Thompson’s communication on the field (as the team’s on-field play-caller) had been missed. Snow said there was a play against the Giants in which they didn’t make a check based on formation, the kind of thing Thompson would have recognized.

“He really brings that to the table,” Snow said. “And we miss Shaq; it’ll be good to have him back.”

While the recent weeks and late scoring drives by opponents have been hard to watch at times, Thompson made it clear that being out of the mix was hard for him.

“The thing I did learn was not to get hurt. That’s the biggest thing. Because I love playing football, love playing for my brothers, love playing for this team,” he said. “It sucks that I got hurt, but I believe in them boys, and I feel like for the most part they’ve played hard. We had some minor things get away, slip away from us, but we’ll be back this week.”

And if he’s back, it will certainly help.