A rough start to training camp just got terrible for the Giants. Their Prince is hurt.
First-round pick Prince Amukamara Saturday night suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot during practice inside the team’s field house. The injury requires surgery, as a screw will be inserted in the foot and the Giants say he will be sidelined for an “undetermined period.’’
Last season, left tackle Will Beatty experienced the same injury and was out for seven weeks.
This is a terrible way to start an NFL career. The cornerback from Nebraska walked gingerly off the field mid-way through only his second practice with the Giants and X-rays showed the fracture.
This is a continuance of what seems to be an annual rite of summer: Players who report late to training camp get hurt early. So it went for Amukamara, the 19th overall selection in the NFL Draft, who missed the first week of camp while negotiations dragged on for his first professional contract. He made it through his first practice on Saturday but didn’t make it out of his second.
This is a huge setback for Amukamara, who was far behind because he missed the first week after he and the other rookies missed the entire off-season with the lockout in place.
After his first and only practice, Amukamara – who was not thrown into the full fire – said “I feel like I am in great shape.’’
The Giants did not have to rush Amukamara onto the field, with starters Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas ahead of him, as well as nickel back Aaron Ross. Now they won’t have him for the foreseeable future.