Antrel Rolle was talking about how the Giants were able to overcome a spate of summer injuries that spilled into the regular season and managed to win four of their first six games.
“I wouldn’t say I’m amazed,’’ Rolle said yesterday, “but I would say I’m pleased with the attitude of the team and the way we stepped up and accepted the challenge, stepped up and accepted adversity.’’
But, Rolle added, “At the end of the day we got to play with what we’ve got.’’
Well, what the Giants got today is a whole lot more than they had. They reconvened after their five-day bye week respite and lo and behold they looked like a complete team on the field during a light workout.
The Giants had several marquee players missing time before the bye and nearly all of them participated in some aspect of practice. That bodes well for the Giants, who look to be at or near full strength for Sunday’s game against the winless Dolphins (0-6), the last game against an also-ran before a hellacious five-game stretch.
“Everybody’s back,’’ safety Deon Grant said. “We’re just going to keep building and realize we got a lot of key guys back and just build off that. Let’s take care of Miami.’’
Taking care of the anemic Dolphins might not require a full complement of players, but if the Giants are to hold on to first place in the NFC East they figure to be greatly aided by bolstering their roster with the reinforcements ready to swoop in.
Defensive end Justin Tuck, who has missed four of the first six games with neck and groin issues, was on the field, as was right guard Chris Snee, who missed the 27-24 victory over the Bills with a concussion.
Running back Brandon Jacobs, who missed the last two games with a swollen knee, was out there — he’ll likely wear a brace to protect his left knee — and so was rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara, who hasn’t played at all this season coming back from surgery to repair a broken foot he hurt Aug. 6.
Fullback Henry Hynoski sat out against the Bills with a neck burner and was able to run through some plays; he might be another week away. But receiver Ramses Barden, who is on the Physically Unable to Perform list, made his practice debut. Barden hasn’t played at all, coming back from an ankle injury last season.
“It is something that we have been looking for,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said of all the returning players. “I don’t know if uplifting would be the word. It is a good sign to have guys out there.’’
Tuck will enhance a defensive front that has helped amass 21 sacks — tied with the Redskins and Vikings for tops in the league. Last week, Tuck vowed he would play against the Dolphins but yesterday was coy, saying he was “not a psychic.’’ He was upbeat, though, a clear sign that he’s feeling much better.
“It was good to have him out there, he looked great,’’ defensive end Dave Tollefson said. “We would expect nothing less.’’
The Giants facing the Bills received a solid effort from Kevin Boothe filling in at right guard, but Snee is a Pro Bowl player. He needed to spend the night in a hospital after the loss to the Seahawks, suffering from the first concussion he has ever experienced, but says he’s all the way back.
The plan is for Amukamara to eventually move in as the nickel cornerback once the Giants feel they can trust him. Coughlin said Amukamara “did a little bit’’ and will be brought along slowly.
“I did a little bit of special teams and then did other individual [drills],’’ Amukamara said. “I felt good. Didn’t feel any pain. Usually by this time last week, after all that activity, my foot would be throbbing. But now it feels pretty good.”