NFL 2011 - Injuries are Giant Concern as Season Approaches

Injuries are Giant Concern as Season Approaches
John Nestor

East Rutherford, NJ

The New York Giants posted an impressive victory over the Chicago Bears Monday night. Not that they will enjoy it much.

Despite an impressive performance in the win the Giants woke up Tuesday morning with a sense of loss as starting cornerback Terrell Thomas is lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Thomas was injured in the final minute of the first half of Monday's 41-13 victory when he collided with teammate Jason Pierre-Paul while rushing the quarterback.

The loss is a major blow for the Giants as Thomas led the team with 101 tackles and five interceptions last season and added four forced fumbles. In the final year of his contract, Thomas was having a strong training camp and was poised for a stellar season.

Now he will spend the year rehabbing as the latest in a long line of injured Giants defensive backs.

Four of the Giants' top six cornerbacks have suffered injuries. Bruce Johnson is also out for the season with an Achilles injury and backup cornerback Brian Witherspoon injured his left MCL Monday and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

The team's first-round pick, Prince Amukamara, is still out with a broken foot.

"It's something you have try to cope with and it's time for other guys to step up," safety Antrel Rolle said. "I don't think it's something you can just replace. You have to understand that it comes with the game of football. It comes with the territory and it leaves room for other guys to step up.

"It's definitely going to alter our defense a little bit. But we can't hang our heads on the season. We still have a lot of football to play. I'm just praying to God that everyone stays healthy and we have to move on."

Thomas' starting right cornerback job will be manned by Aaron Ross, the Giants' first-round draft choice in 2007. Ross missed the entire preseason and first nine regular season games in 2009 with a hamstring injury which moved Thomas into the starting lineup. Now Ross gets his job back with Thomas is hurt.

"I have to fill in," Ross said. "I was a starter when I got here. I went down, unfortunately, and Terrell stepped in and did a tremendous job. It's unfortunate that Terrell went down, but it's my job to step back in and fill the shoes."

Twitter: @ihavenet