Giants CB Terrell Thomas re-injures his right knee

[July 31, 2012]  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Projected starting cornerback Terrell Thomas has re-injured his surgically repaired right knee and his status for the New York Giants' season is uncertain.

Thomas was sent to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York Monday after reporting that he had swelling in his right knee. An MRI and an examination by Dr. Russell Warren, the team orthopedic surgeon, showed that the five-year veteran suffered another injury to the knee involving the ACL.

He tore his ACL for the second time in a preseason game last season and missed the Giants' Super Bowl season. He slipped in practice on Sunday covering receiver Domenik Hixon and that seems to be when he re-injured it.

Ronnie Barnes, the Giants senior vice president of medical services, said that Thomas probably would have arthroscopic surgery to determine the extent of the new injury. Thomas plans to consult with California-based surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting, who performed the ACL reconstruction in September.

Coach Tom Coughlin said Thomas, who iced his knee after slipping, told him after practice Sunday that his knee felt good.

"He didn't really seem to have any issues and then this morning, when he came back and he was swollen," Coughlin said. "So, they sent him to HSS."

Thomas suffered the same injury at Southern California in 2005. He was not immediately available for comment Monday, and there was nothing posted on his Twitter account.

Thomas signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Giants in the offseason. He has received a $1 million signing bonus, but the rest of the deal is not guaranteed.

A starter in 2009 and 2010 and the team's leading tackler, Thomas 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. Thomas 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 in training camp 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 in 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."

He will get his chance now.

"Prince has been looking fine," Coughlin said. "He's played a lot with the ones. Terrell's kind of been in and out."

NOTES: LB Michael Boley also went to New York to have an injured hamstring examined. ... LB Keith Rivers missed a second straight practice with a hamstring injury. ... DE Justin Trattou had an MRI on his sprained ankle. Coughlin hopes he can return soon. ... DE Osi Umenyiora, who had his contract re-negotiated in the offseason, said he is not experiencing any nagging injuries this camp. He has been bothered by chronic hip and knee issues.

[Associated Press; By TOM CANAVAN]

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