The Giants, already buckling under the weight of a 0-2 start to their season, suffered a significant injury loss on Sunday when cornerback Walter Thurmond suffered a torn pectoral muscle, ending his season.
Thurmond was forced out in the third quarter of the 25-14 loss to the Cardinals. He will undergo surgery Tuesday and his first season with the Giants lasted only two games before he landed on injured reserve.
“It’s very unfortunate,’’ safety Antrel Rolle said. “Walter, we were looking forward to him being a great player for us in our secondary. We have to find a way to move on as professionals.’’
It turned out to be a costly loss for the Giants. Middle linebacker Jon Beason left MetLife Stadium with a walking boot on his right foot after a toe injury forced him out. Beason missed all of training camp and all five preseason games with torn ligaments in his right foot and also a small fracture to the sesamoid bone. This new injury, no doubt connected to the one he was coming off, is likely to keep him out of action for quite a while.
Also, receiver Jerrel Jernigan came away with a mid-foot sprain, which is another injury that keeps players off the field for weeks.
Signed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, Thurmond, was brought in to play nickel cornerback, as he was reputed to be one of the best slot corners in the NFL. He arrived fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, a member of the league’s best secondary, the self-named Legion of Boom defensive backfield. Thurmond was hurt late in the third quarter after he pushed rookie receiver John Brown of bounds after a 5-yard gain.
“I went to punch at the ball and I felt my shoulder on his shoulder pad and I felt a sting from that impact when I pushed him out,’’ Thurmond said after the game. “As the play went on it wasn’t bad until I felt some kind of pulling in my pec on some of the plays, went to the sideline to get checked out.’’
Trumaine McBride replaced Thurmond in the fourth quarter and for now will be the permanent replacement as the nickel corner mixed in with starting cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
“McBride played well last year so he’s going to have to step up and play well again,’’ Tom Coughlin said.
The defensive backfield is supposed to be a great strength, but thus far has been a major disappointment, giving up big play after big play last week in Detroit and shredded early against the Cardinals by backup quarterback Drew Stanton. The loss of Thurmond severely weakens the talent level in the secondary.
The impending loss of Beason likely means Jameel McClain is headed from outside linebacker back into the middle, where he played all summer.
“I choose not to thing negatively, to be completely honest,’’ McClain said. “Jon is a warrior and I’m going to continue with that mind-set.’’