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Giants: Prince Amukamara Injury Is A Big Blow To Overcome

By Kenneth Teape

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The New York Giants have had many of the same problems this season as they have had in previous ones. The one at the top of the list is injuries. The Giants battled injuries throughout the summer, and things haven’t gotten better during the regular season. Now they will be facing another injury, and this one is a huge blow.

Starting cornerback Prince Amukamara will now be sidelined for at least two weeks, and possibly four, with a partially torn pectoral muscle. The muscle is still connected to the bone according to doctors, which means Amukamara should be able to avoid surgery. That also means that Amukamara should avoid the IR, even the short-term one.

This is also the continuation of a troubling trend for Amukamara, who has been extremely injury prone throughout his career. Amukamara has played only one full season in his career, in 2013. The other three seasons, he missed nine, three and eight games in 2011, 2012 and 2014. This is something the Giants have unfortunately become accustomed to in regards to Amukamara, clouding his future with the team.

Amukamara is currently playing out the fifth year option that the Giants extended to him over the offseason. But, this could theoretically be his last with the team. Can they afford to put big money in Amukamara when he is unable to stay on the field consistently?

Whatever his future may bring, in the present, this is a big problem for the Giants. This is a big blow for them, who have been relying on Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie heavily this season in coverage to make up for the lack of other areas on the defense. Steve Spagnuolo has very limited weapons in terms of rushing the passer, which means more blitzing. The result has been Amukamara and Rodgers-Cromartie being left on an island in one-on-one coverage.

It has not been the fault of those two, but the Giants rank last in the NFL in passing yards allowed, giving up 304 yards per game. That number is bad, but it would be worse without the presence of Amukamara and Rodgers-Cromartie. With Amukamara now out of the picture for a couple of weeks, and a less talented player in Jayron Hosley probably taking over, it could get much worse.

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The Giants scheme overall defensively may have to change with Amukamara sidelined. They cannot afford to leave Hosley or Tevin Wade in constant one-on-one coverage like they did with Amukamara. That could make an already anemic pass rush even worse as Spagnuolo will undoubtedly have to cut back on the amount of blitzes he calls.

The Giants have been able to overcome injuries thus far in 2015 to get a 3-2 record thus far. But, none will be as tough to overcome as Amukamara missing at least two games. This is an extremely important stretch of games for the Giants, as they are traveling to take on the Philadelphia, hosting the Dallas Cowboys and then visits to the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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With the NFC East up for grabs, the Giants have to win games over the Eagles and Cowboys this season if they want the crown. That accomplishment will be much tougher to achieve without one of their top two cornerbacks. The Giants run defense has been strong this season, and will have to continue to be with Amukamara on the sideline for multiple weeks.

Next: Where Are The Giants In Our NFL Power Rankings?

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