ARLINGTON, Texas — The Giants lost one of their starting cornerbacks, Prince Amukamara, in the second quarter of Sunday night’s 36-31 loss to the Cowboys when he sustained an accidental helmet-to-helmet hit with teammate Ryan Mundy and came away with a concussion.
Mundy and Amukamara were in coverage as rookie Terrence Williams hauled in a 9-yard completion and the two defensive backs slammed heads into each other.
Both went down and then into the locker room for observation. Mundy was cleared to return in the second half, but Amukamara was not. It is likely Amukamara will not be available for the next game, which figures to be problematic, as teams need as many capable defensive backs as possible against the Broncos and Peyton Manning.
DE Jason Pierre-Paul, coming off back surgery said he decided Saturday night that he would play and he got extensive work, although he did not start. He notched his first sack of the season, dropping Tony Romo in the fourth quarter.
“I didn’t play to my expectations,’’ Pierre-Paul said. “Coming to Dallas I play ’em very well but I feel I was kind of struggling out there. I wasn’t tired, my back didn’t hurt at all. Just got to get in that football shape again.’’
WR Victor Cruz, playing his first game after signing a six-year, $46 million contract, had a career-high three touchdown receptions.
“That wasn’t how I envisioned it, I care about the wins and to come here, fight back, crawl back as an offense wide receivers are battling each and every play and it’s just tough to leave here with a loss,’’ Cruz said.
LB Dan Connor left the game in the third quarter with a burner. … CB Terrell Thomas, playing in his first game in nearly 1,000 days, after two ACL surgeries, was used extensively in the slot. “I wish I could have been a little tighter in coverage, I thought I did a good job tackling,’’ Thomas said, “For my first game I thought I had a good showing.’’
FB Henry Hynoski, coming off knee surgery in the spring, was active but looked rusty in his first-half playing time, dropping a pass and missing a block. … Rookie defensive end Damontre Moore, bothered by a bruised shoulder, will have to wait to make his NFL debut. He was inactive, along with QB Ryan Nassib, DT Johnathan Hankins, DE Adewale Ojomo, OL David Diehl, TE Adrien Robinson and C David Baas.
Cruz’s 70-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was his seventh of 70 or more yards in his career. That’s more than any active NFL player. … The Giants started their season with three turnovers on their first three possessions. The last team to “accomplish’’ that was the 2005 Vikings. … New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a big Cowboys fan, enjoyed some face time on the Dallas sideline before the game.