Less than a year after tearing an ACL in his right knee during a preseason game, New York Giants’ cornerback Terrell Thomas re-injured the same knee, and the prospects of it being minor do not look promising. Giants senior vice president of medical services, Ronnie Barnes, said on the team’s website. “At this point, he will most likely undergo an arthroscopic procedure to determine the extent of the injury to the ACL. However, no decision has been made at this point. Terrell is going to consult with Dr. (Arthur) Ting, who performed an allograft reconstruction of the ACL in September.”
Coach Tom Coughlin sounded concerned and disappointed for Thomas. When asked about any updates to Thomas’ condition after Monday’s practice, Coughlin said, “Unfortunately, there is. He came in this morning with a swollen knee, went down to [Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan]. . . He walked up to me after practice (Sunday), he thought he felt good. He didn’t really seem to have any issues and then this morning, when he came back and he was swollen, so they sent him to (the specialist).”
The Giants re-signed this spring days before free agency and it allowed the organization to let Aaron Ross to depart and sign wherever he wanted. He linked up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, as it turns out, the Giants are in nearly the identical position it was last year, when Thomas first went down. Only this time, Prince Amukamara is healthy and ready for an opportunity. Last August, the 2011 first-rounder broke a bone in his left foot and did not get any action until Week 11.
A year ago, defensive end Justin Tuck alled Thomas’ injury “devastating,” adding “Obviously, he was primed to have another great year and … we don’t know who is going to step up, but somebody is going to have to step up to fill that void. And it’s a big void.”
Amukamara will get a chance to prove he can be a factor. “Prince has been looking fine,” Coughlin said.