While Prince Amukamara was doing several radio interviews on Sept. 6, the topic of concussions came up. The Giants cornerback felt confident talking about his odds.
“It was just funny how it happened,” he recalled. “I was sounding kind of prideful, saying that I don’t think I’d ever get one and I hit the right way.
“But I just happened to get hit on Sunday. It was a different feeling.”
Perhaps having jinxed himself, Amukamara suffered his first football-related concussion during the second quarter of the Giants’
Week 1 loss to the Cowboys. It was a worrisome development as Amukamara is a pivotal player in the Giants’ secondary, the team was facing a terrific passing offense in Dallas that night and it opposes an imposing passing attack against Peyton Manning and the Broncos at MetLife on Sunday.
On Thursday, however, Amukamara was medically cleared, and on Friday he practiced fully for the Giants for the first time since the injury.
He’s now set to face Manning and Co., barring any unforeseen setbacks.
“I was always studying and preparing like I was going to be out there,” Amukamara said. “It probably was in the doctors’ minds [that I wouldn’t go], but I was always prepared to play.”
Will the concussion and the two days of missed practice hamper Amukamara on Sunday? It’s a valid question, but fortunately for the Giants, he said he was able to catch mental reps in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, attended meetings and conducted bonus film study. He said his concentration has been fine.
“I’ve been studying like crazy,” he said. “I know this is a big week.”
The concussion happened when Amukamara and safety Ryan Mundy were accidentally involved in a head-on collision. Mundy was fine, returning to the game, but Amukamara was out for the night.
“I just saw a couple flashes,” Amukamara said. “Everyone said it looked like I caught the Holy Ghost because my arms were out and stuff. But it is definitely a scary feeling, especially for my mom. I had to call her and tell her everything was OK.”
After experiencing temporary symptoms, Amukamara is now feeling 100 percent. He was in upbeat spirits in the locker room on Friday, comfortable discussing the injury and joking with reporters.
When describing the concussion test, Amukamara said he was asked to recite the last three U.S. presidents.
“I almost missed Clinton,” he said.
Amukamara’s only previous concussion might have been when Clinton was in office. The 24-year-old Amukamara said when he was approximately 10 years old when he “ran into a basketball pole.” He was knocked out,
saying: “I don’t think I remembered anything for like 20 seconds.”
Who hits harder, the pole or Mundy?
“Definitely the pole,” Amukamara said.
Amukamara said he “felt great” during practice on Friday, and the Giants should have a completely healthy cornerback group to defend Denver’s vaunted wideout trio of Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Eric Decker. The Giants’ five top corners — Amukamara, Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross and Jayron Hosley — should all be healthy and active.
“It’s extremely valuable [to have Amukamara],” safety Antrel Rolle said. “We all know that Prince is definitely an asset to this defense.”