The Giants need a healthy cornerback to aid a defensive backfield that was shredded in the season-opening 24-17 loss to the Cowboys but it might not be Prince Amukamara coming to the rescue on Sept. 16 against the Buccaneers.
Amukamara is dealing with a high ankle sprain, an injury he suffered in the Aug. 29 preseason finale, and he has not tried to run yet.
“I know that I can’t rush it,’’ Amukamara said on Thursday. “If there was a magic pill to take to be healed, I would. It’s just mainly on how it feels. It feels good. I’m not sure I can run on it or anything yet. I haven’t tried that, but I’ve been doing a lot of rehab and work on it. So I know I’m progressing.’’
Amukamara saw his replacement, Michael Coe, have to leave the game against the Cowboys with a hamstring issue. He also saw Coe’s replacement, Justin Tryon, struggle in coverage against the Dallas receivers.
“Of course the natural feeling is to feel that sense of urgency, that sense of pressure,’’ Amukamara said. “But I know that I’m just worried about the things that I can control. That’s just my rehab. I can’t control the time it takes to heal, so I’m just focusing on what I can control.’’
It does not sound as if Amukamara is ready to make a return.
“It’s not necessarily a tight feeling, it’s just sometimes when I load it, I just feel pain,’’ he said. “The trainers explained to me that pain isn’t good and they just told me the whole 1, 2, 3 of the injury. I’ve just been trying not to put a lot of pressure on it lately.’’
Injury updates:
– WR Hakeem Nicks said he played 53 of the 57 offensive snaps, starting after slightly more than three months after breaking his right foot. “I came out pretty good, a little sore afterwards as we expected but the main thing is I finished the game, played tough,’’ Nicks said. “I felt it at times on certain routes but it wasn’t nothing that prevented me from playing in the game or coming out of the game. It was maintainable. It wasn’t excruciating pain or it wasn’t extremely bad. I maintained it, fought through it and finished the game.’’
– Coe was forced out with what he believes is not a major hamstring injury. “I just didn’t know if I could really turn it over and run and I didn’t want to hamper the defense,’’ Coe said. “I tried to move a little bit, it was ok but I still felt it so I didn’t want to put my team at risk. I’m feeling pretty good, I’ll see after these next few days.’’
– LB Keith Rivers made his first start for the Giants in place of Michael Boley, who was coming off a strained hamstring. Rivers was forced off the field when his own hamstring gave out. “I’ll be alright. Just taking it day by day and we’ll see each day,’’ said Rivers, who joked that between he and Boley “we’d be one healthy, good player. Hopefully we’ll both be ready. Keep treating ourselves and get ready for this next week.’’
– Boley came up with an interception and 51-yard return nearly for a touchdown but afterward his hamstring was sore, as expected. “I came out pretty good,’’ Boley said. “Just sore. You know, just general soreness from not really being involved in too much physical contact, activity for awhile. That was about it.’’