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Aaron Ross couldn’t have timed his fantastic first-quarter performance any better last night.
The sight of the veteran Giants cornerback making plays all over the field in a 41-13 exhibition win over the Bears certainly cushioned the blow of fellow corner Terrell Thomas’ season-ending knee injury just before halftime.
A former first-round pick who had slipped down the depth chart the past four years due to injuries of his own, Ross appears likely to step into Thomas’ starting job at right corner opposite Corey Webster.
“You never want to win a job because of somebody’s else injury, and I’m praying for Terrell, but this team is going to be counting on me,” Ross said. “It’s important that I step up. I’m healthy, and my speed is back.”
Concerns Big Blue might have about that transition were at least dimmed by Ross’ play in the opening period last night at New Meadowlands Stadium as he handily won his duels with Roy Williams and Devin Hester.
Ross had the coverage on three pivotal third-down plays in the first quarter, knocking away two passes intended for Williams and a third for Hester that had touchdown all over it.
The play on Hester was the most crucial and most impressive for Ross, who forced the Bears to settle for a field goal after back-to-back completions of 37 and 42 yards — neither with him defending — put them in prime position to erase a 3-0 deficit.
With Jay Cutler locked in on Hester just inside the goal line, Ross got physical — perhaps a little too physical, but no flag was thrown — and batted away the pass at the last second.
“I really felt like I was in a groove out there, just doing what comes naturally to me when I’m healthy,” Ross said.
It was the kind of aggressive, in-your-face coverage the Giants expected out of Ross when they took him 20th overall out of Texas in 2007 but rarely got after he was limited to just four games by injury two years ago.
The Giants badly need Ross to stay healthy now, however, thanks to the torn ACL Thomas suffered in a collision just before halftime.
Ross goes from the Giants’ nickel back to starter, leaving Michael Coe to fill in as the third corner unless GM Jerry Reese can work some magic via trade or free agency.
“We feel very confident in Aaron Ross,” Justin Tuck said. “He’s ready for that role [as a starter], and he’s been in the league.”
bhubbuch@nypost.com