Health at cornerback is a concern for Giants as they open camp

It’s a thrill for Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas to be practicing at all after tearing his ACL in a 2011 preseason game. Unfortunately, Thomas, who started and led the team in tackles and interceptions in 2009 and 2010, hurt his back on Friday and was forced to sit the rest of the opening practice of training camp.

No one has suggested he’ll miss any time -- Thomas later tweeted that he's OK -- and coach Tom Coughlin simply said that Thomas’ “back tightened up on him,” but the Giants have to be worried given the recent health of the rest of the cornerbacks.

Second-year cornerback Prince Amukamara has a surgically repaired foot and underwent an offseason procedure that limited him during minicamp and OTAs, and Justin Tryon (arm) and Michael Coe (knee) each suffered season-ending injuries in 2011.


S Antrel Rolle was forced to play a lot of nickelback as the depth chart at cornerback dwindled, which is something he’d prefer not to deal with this season.

“It feels a little funny saying I'm not comfortable playing a position I'm supposed to play, but I'm getting back into the swing of things,” Rolle said, adding, “We have a lot of guys up front as far as secondary-wise that can come in and play that third corner spot.”

In other words, Rolle doesn’t want to move away from safety again this year.

Even if Thomas does start this season -- something he says he expects to do -- he might move to nickelback against multiple-receiver formations given his tackling ability. That means Tryon, Coe, Amukamara and possibly third-round pick Jayron Hosley could play opposite veteran Corey Webster at times.

Of course, for that to happen, Thomas needs to stay healthy.

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