NFL

Giants’ Osi expects to be ready for practice

Osi Umenyiora heads to training camp Sunday in Albany prepared to participate in the first practice that afternoon. The Giants medical staff firmly believes the lingering issues with Umenyiora’s hip can be handled without surgery.

Umenyiora, according to a published report, earlier this month sought a second opinion and visited the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., to see Dr. Marc Philippon, a hip specialist who operated on Alex Rodriguez. Philippon’s recommendation was surgery to repair the damage still present from the torn hip flexor that forced Umenyiora to miss five games in 2006.

The report stated surgery was scheduled but then canceled after Philippon, Umeniyora and the Giants medical staff agreed that managing the situation will work because he won’t make it worse by playing.

Before traveling to Colorado, Umenyiora conferred with the Giants medical staff and, according to a source, was told he could play with the hip issue by managing it the way he has the past few years. Any surgery can wait, and there is no risk of further injury. The source also indicated no surgery was ever scheduled.

Umenyiora’s agent, Tony Agnone, yesterday said Giants team physician Russ Warren has been consistent in his belief that Umenyiora can play through the hip issue. Also, this is not an opportune time to have surgery with the specter of a work-stoppage in the NFL in 2011. Agnone said Umenyiora is confident he can “do what he can do.”

Umenyiora participated in the off-season workout program and the mandatory minicamp, although he did experience some discomfort in his hip, keeping him out of at least one organized team activity. He played in all 16 games last season after missing all of 2008 after surgery to repair torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee.

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Giants rookie safety Chad Jones, who last month suffered a serious and career-threatening injury to his left leg, yesterday was released from the Hospital for Special Surgery, where he’d been since June 29. Jones was involved in a car accident June 25 in New Orleans that did extensive damage to his left leg and ankle. He returned to his home in New Orleans.

The long road back continues for Jones, a third-round draft pick out of LSU who excelled in college in both football and baseball. Jones has undergone several surgical procedures, first at LSU Public Hospital and later at HSS. He will rest and recuperate at home and then return to New York in several weeks for additional surgery.

“Chad is in great spirits and excited to be getting out of the hospital,” said Ronnie Barnes, the Giants vice president of medical services, who visited Jones yesterday. “All has gone well thus far for Chad, and he will return in probably six to eight weeks for another surgical procedure.”

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Newly signed LB Keith Bulluck‘s one-year deal is worth $2.18 million, including a veteran-minimum salary of $855,000, a signing bonus of $150,000 and a roster bonus of $100,000. Incentives of $1.075 million bump up the possible worth. If Bulluck does not make the team, the Giants are out only $150,000, making this a low-risk signing.

paul.schwartz@nypost.com