NFL Rumors: Prince Amukamara Will Not Play vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The New York Giants could use a ton of help in the secondary after their dismal 24-17 loss in the opener to the Dallas Cowboys, but don’t expect Prince Amukamara to return just yet. NFL rumors swirling make it clear that the Giants will likely be without the second-year cornerback when they collide with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 16.

Amukamara is dealing with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in the Giants’ preseason finale against the New England Patriots. To date, he has yet to try to run on that ankle.

The Giants saw Amukamara’s replacement Michael Coe go down with an injury in the opener against the Cowboys, which forced fifth-stringer Justin Tryon into the lineup. Tryon was underwhelming at best and the Cowboys offense feasted on the Giants’ secondary woes. Tony Romo passed for 301 yards and three touchdowns on Wednesday, plus he targeted Coe and Tryon throughout the contest with much success.

Amukamara missed the first half of the 2011 season with a broken left foot. When he made his debut, he struggled and was unimpressive for a first-rounder who was so highly touted coming out of Nebraska. In the offseason, high expectations were placed upon Amukamara, especially with Terrell Thomas going down with his third career ACL injury. Unfortunately, Amukamara’s season has started on the wrong foot once again.

With Coe uncertain for the Giants’ next game and Tryon an unacceptable option to start, the defending Super Bowl champions need Amukamara back as soon as possible. Right now, Week 2 does not sound promising for his return.

“It’s not necessarily a tight feeling, it’s just sometimes when I load it, I just feel pain,’’ Amukamara told the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. “The trainers explained to me that pain isn’t good and they just told me the whole 1, 2, 3 of the injury. I’ve just been trying not to put a lot of pressure on it lately.’’

Louis Musto is a New York Giants Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.