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Today is an anniversary, for Terrell Thomas, but not a happy one.
Two years ago, on Aug. 22, 2011, Thomas went down with a serious knee injury in a preseason “Monday Night Football” game against the Bears. It was a torn right anterior cruciate ligament and it ended the season before it started for Thomas, a rising star at cornerback for the Giants about to cash in with a lucrative new contract.
Incredibly, Thomas hasn’t played in a game since. He’ll make his return Saturday, as Tom Coughlin yesterday said Thomas will make his preseason debut against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
“He’s going to go, he’ll play,’’ Coughlin said.
That’s the news Thomas has been long awaiting. The Giants have been careful not to overextend Thomas, who came back last summer after ACL surgery but did not make it out of the first week of training camp before re-tearing the ACL, necessitating another reconstructive surgery. It was the third right ACL surgery for Thomas, the first coming in 2005 when he played at USC.
The pace of this rehab has been slower and more deliberate. Thomas experienced an immediate setback with a strained hamstring, landing him on the physically unable to perform list at the start of camp, but he has been on the field for two weeks and has been deemed ready for his first game action.
The Giants view Thomas’ return as something of a luxury, but if he can return to his previous form he will greatly bolster their secondary, adding to the cornerback mix that includes Prince Amukamara, Corey Webster, Aaron Ross and Jayron Hosley.
Judging from what Thomas showed in yesterday’s final practice of camp, he appears ready. He ran step-for-step with receiver Kevin Hardy and took advantage of an overthrow by rookie Ryan Nassib for an over-the-shoulder interception, his first of the summer. Thomas then looked spry as he quickly changed direction and took off on the return.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the practice tape on that,’’ said Coughlin, adding, “He looked good yesterday too, moving around out there, really moved well out there today also.’’
Thomas nearly had a second interception when he was in perfect position to haul in an Eli Manning pass intended for Jerrel Jernigan, but the ball slipped through Thomas’ hands.