After Stevie Brown picked off Jets quarterback Geno Smith late in the first quarter Saturday night at MetLife Stadium, Ryan Mundy was on his way to congratulating his fellow Giants safety.
“He just stayed down,” Mundy said.
Brown, who paced the Giants with eight interceptions last season, suffered a sprained left knee and had to be helped off the field in the Jets’ 24-21 overtime preseason victory. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but it didn’t look promising. The Giants already are without their other starting safety, Antrel Rolle, out with a sprained ankle.
It was part of a roller-coaster night for the Giants’ secondary, but there was potentially way more bad than good. Cornerback Terrell Thomas played in his first game in two years, which was extremely encouraging. But not only did Brown get hurt, cornerback Jayron Hosley sprained his ankle in the first quarter and also did not return.
Thus, there was one potential solution for the Giants’ secondary last night but two new potential problems. And one of them might be major.
Rolle has said he’ll return for the season-opener against the Cowboys, and he’s likely to even practice this week. Still, his effectiveness may be at least initially compromised. If the Giants are missing Brown and also have a weakened Rolle, their safety situation will be a glaring concern.
Mundy, a free-agent acquisition from the Steelers, was starting for Rolle and now could start for Brown. The team also has third-year vet Tyler Sash.
Hosley, the second-year man from Virginia Tech, ranks as the Giants’ fourth corner, behind Prince Amukamara — who rolled his ankle last night but played afterward and said he will practice this week — Corey Webster and Aaron Ross.
Fortunately for the Giants’ secondary, Thomas — who missed the last two seasons with torn ACLs — was on the field for more than 20 plays. The once-elite corner recorded three tackles.
“I was ready to go like I never left,” he said. “The confidence is getting there. Everything is coming along right on pace like I want it.”
“T2 looked awesome,” said the emerging Amukamara, who also intercepted Smith. “He looked like he never missed a beat.”
Thomas was on the field starting with the Giants’ first defensive drive, working in the slot. He said his tackling needs to improve, since he hasn’t been able to work on that during his rehab.
“I think I had a good showing for my first preseason game in two years,” he said.
Brown and Hosley didn’t come through as well.
— Additional reporting by Paul Schwartz