The Sports Xchange

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants’ 32nd-ranked pass defense, which is allowing a league-worse 304.2 yards per game, got a piece of bad news on Thursday.

Head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed that cornerback Prince Amukamara has a partial tear of his pectoral muscle that could sideline him a minimum of two-to-four weeks.

It is the second time in as many seasons Amukamara, who is in a contract year, has an upper body injury.

Last year, he missed 10 games after suffering a torn biceps muscle. In his five-year career, which began in 2011, Amukamara has only made it through one 16-game season, that coming in 2013.

The good news for Amukamara is that this injury isn’t as serious in that the muscle hasn’t detached itself from any bones like his 2014 season-ending biceps injury did.

“It gives me a chance to rehab and we’ll do another MRI in a couple of weeks to see how it’s healing and go from there,” he said.

Despite the injury, Amukamara was able to remain in Sunday’s game, an occurrence he said was partially due to the adrenaline and partially due to when the pain was triggered.

“In the game it bothered me when I would open up to run, but pressing wise, it didn’t bother me so I was able to stay in the game,” he said.

Regardless of the severity, Amukamara has been declared out of Monday’s game and will also miss the following week’s NFC East rematch against Dallas.

With Amukamara sidelined for the time being, Jayron Hosley will be the next man up according to Coughlin.

“We played a game and won a game with Hosley starting at corner,” he said. “He’ll have to jump in there and do that, which I’m sure he’s excited about. So we must continue on.”

Coughlin said the biggest difference in Hosley has been an increase in confidence.

“He’s done well when he’s been called upon, whether it’s special teams or defense, he’s done well,” he said.

The Giants, whose serviceable cornerbacks include Hosley, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Trevin Wade, and Trumaine McBride (the latter of whom is on the team’s injury report with a groin strain) added Brandon McGee to their practice squad.

McGee, 5-11 and 203 pounds, is a fifth-round draft pick (149th overall) by the Rams in 2013. He has played in 17 regular-season games, all with St. Louis. He was credited with 10 tackles (eight solo).

McGee played in 15 games that season, and had eight tackles. Last year, he played in two games before going on injured reserve with a foot injury.

He was waived on Sept. 5, signed to the Rams’ practice squad 10 days later, was signed to the active roster on Sept. 29, and was waived again on Oct. 2.

The Giants also have Tramain Jacobs, a second-year player out of Texas A&M on their practice squad.

–The Giants could very well have a significant problem on Monday night if they don’t get at least one, if not two of their ailing receivers back on the practice field.

Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle are all currently ailing, which is not good news for an offense that has relied on the passing game for the bulk of its production.

Cruz, who has been sidelined since midway through the preseason with a left calf injury that both he and the team have insisted is not related to his torn patellar tendon suffered and repaired last year, underwent a PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatment two weeks ago following a setback he experienced when he briefly returned to practice in Week 4 prior to the game against the Bills.

However, the receiver is still waiting to see if the injection will expedite his healing process, which so far it has not.

“He’s rehabbing, working indoors primarily, working with the trainers, he’s in every meeting,” head coach Tom Coughlin said, adding, “however, he has not been cleared to be on the field.”

The Giants have been able to get by so far this season without Cruz, but with both Randle and Beckham ailing with hamstring injuries, New York is facing the prospects of entering a critical NFC East contest minus three key members of their receiving corps.

On Monday, Coughlin indicated that both Beckham and Randle would be on aggressive treatment schedules so that they would be ready to participate at minimum on a limited basis when the team reconvened on Thursday.

However, of the two, Randle was able to take some limited snaps while Beckham was held put of Thursday’s practice.

“All we can do is hold onto the fact he’s a competitive young man and, if at all possible, he’ll be ready to play,” Coughlin said of Beckham.

Beckham hasn’t lost hope that he’ll be ready for Monday night.

“Treatments, treatments, treatments; just make sure you stay on top of it,” he said when asked what it would take for him to be in the lineup.

That’s easier said than done for the fiery second-year receiver, who said he enjoys having the chance to practice.

“Come game time, you’ve already seen it and it’s smooth sailing but for right now, all you can do is get mental reps and be ready for Monday. Right now it’s day-by-day, so we’ll see.”

Notes: Linebacker Jon Beason (concussion) has not yet completed the league’s concussion protocol, but he was outside with the team going through stretching before going to work with a trainer on a side field. Barring a setback, Beason should be good to go for Monday’s game. … Linebacker Devon Kennard (hamstring) did not practice on Thursday and does not appear to be on track to play Monday night. Kennard said he’s making progress and has been able to do some jogging, but estimated he’d be out at least another week. Mark Herzlich, who got the start in place of Kennard last week, will presumably get the start if Kennard is unable to go.