Cornerback Prince Amukamara came out of the Saints game with a strained hamstring and was not able to practice yesterday, a potentially huge loss, considering the Falcons have two quality receivers in Roddy White and Julio Jones and the safeties will have their hands full with ageless Tony Gonzalez, who leads the team with 81 receptions.
Coach Tom Coughlin called Amukamara’s hamstring injury “tricky.’’ In what way?
“Well, they all want to play,’’ Coughlin said. “He’s, ‘Aww, I feel better today,’ but what can you do? Oh, well we can’t run him today. Oh, OK, good.’’
If Amukamara is out, safety Antrel Rolle will likely have increased assignments at cornerback.
* The Giants on Sunday will be trying to do what few have been able to accomplish inside the Georgia Dome. The Falcons have won 10 straight home games dating back to last season and their quarterback, Matt Ryan, is nearly unbeatable in his indoor playpen.
Ryan is 32-4 in the dome in his four-plus seasons. Only Tom Brady (29-2) has a better home-field winning percentage in that span.
“Obviously to have a record like that you have to have great quarterback play and he’s been doing that,’’ Justin Tuck said. “Our focus is just making sure he doesn’t get the opportunity to get comfortable back there and hoping we can rattle him a little bit that way. If not, it’s going to be a long day.’’
* Safety Kenny Phillips (knee) has taken a step back after he was able to return two weeks ago. He sat out again. Coughlin said Phillips “is not ready to work.’’ Phillips missed six straight games with an MCL sprain, came back for two and sat out last week.
* WR Hakeem Nicks (knee) did not practice and Coughlin said: “We’re probably going to have to slow down a little bit, not do much, with him. Maybe bring him in a little bit as we move along.’’ Nicks will try to practice later in the week.
* Also not practicing: LB Michael Boley (back), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (back), S Tyler Sash, RB Ahmad Bradshaw (knee). … Three starters for the Falcons did not practice: White (knee), DT Jonathan Babineaux (ribs) and S William Moore (hamstring).
* The get-out-the-vote campaign engineered by Victor Cruz to help him make the Pro Bowl is working. He’s first among NFC receivers with 438,665 votes, ahead of Brandon Marshall (389,725) and Calvin Johnson (383,243).
* RB David Wilson became the first Giants player to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week since David Meggett was honored in 1994.