ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Projected starting cornerback Terrell Thomas’ status for the New York Giants’ season was put in doubt when his surgically repaired right knee developed swelling.
Thomas reported the swelling Monday morning at training camp at the University at Albany and the Giants sent him to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to have it examined.
Coach Tom Coughlin was clearly concerned after practice, but refused to speculate on what might be wrong. He said Thomas slipped in practice Sunday.
“He walked up to me after practice and thought he felt good,” Coughlin said. “He didn’t seem to have any issues but when he came back in this morning it was swollen and we sent him to HSS.”
Coughlin hoped to have an update Monday afternoon.
Thomas was not immediately available for comment and there was nothing posted on his Twitter account.
A starter in 2009 and 2010, Thomas missed last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a preseason game. He was penciled in as the starting cornerback opposite Corey Webster after Aaron Ross was signed as a free agent by Jacksonville.
The Giants have depth at cornerback with Prince Amukamara, last year’s first-round draft pick, veterans Michael Coe and Justin Tryon and third-round draft pick Jayron Hosley, who had to leave practice Monday to get stitches to close a gash on his right knee. He was cut after slipping in pass coverage and landing on another player’s shoe.
Amukamara seems the logical choice to step in for Thomas, who left practice early on Sunday to apply an ice pack to his knee. The five-year veteran also had his back tighten in Friday’s opening workout of camp at the University at Albany.
Amukamara is playing with a chip on his shoulder. He missed the first half of last season after breaking his left foot and did not play his first game until mid-November. He intercepted a pass in his first game against the Eagles but struggled most of the year.
Over this past weekend, Giants general manager Jerry Reese said he wanted Amukamara to start playing like a first-round pick.
“He would always tell me that before the games last year and I didn’t take it to heart, I didn’t take it personal,” Amukamara said at lunch on Monday. “I just took it as encouragement.”
Amukamara said he was never 100 percent last season. He has shown progress in the opening week of training camp, particularly with his ability to play a press coverage.
“I feel I have a lot of expectations for myself, and the organization has a lot of expectations for me, so I mean, last year, I was kind of at fault,” Amukamara said.
“This year, I am starting out fresh and it’s time for me to fulfill my and their (expectations), too.”
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