Giants to look for cornerbacks

The Giants had a few bumps and bruises in the first three weeks of the preseason, but all in all they were a relatively healthy team. Even considering surgeries for Prince Amukamara and Osi Umenyiora, the Giants figured they'd be able to hold things together until those players came back healthy later in the season.

But after Monday night's game against the Bears cost the Giants three players -- a starting cornerback, his potential replacement and a second-round pick -- even the eternally optimistic Tom Coughlin had a hard time keeping his spirits up.

"Obviously, we are not in a great frame of mind today," he said Tuesday on a conference call after announcing that Terrell Thomas (knee), Brian Witherspoon (knee) and Marvin Austin (torn pectoral) all would require season-ending surgery. "I feel badly for these guys and for our team."

The injury that hits the Giants between the eyes is Thomas'. He seemed poised to become a star and had become one of the Giants' top playmakers. He led the team in tackles and interceptions each of the last two years.

"I had a huge comfort level [on the field] with Terrell Thomas," safety Antrel Rolle said on SiriusXM. "We worked a lot together, we talked a lot, because our roles were similar in a lot of ways. That's why it hurts me a lot to see him go down. Honestly, I don't know what to do. I still don't know how to handle it at this point, but I'm going to have to try to find a way. I have to. We have to as a defense."

The first step will be finding bodies. The Giants have only five healthy cornerbacks on the roster. Coughlin said he was resistant to moving Rolle, who came into the league as a cornerback, to the position. The team will hold tryouts Wednesday in search of someone -- or a couple of someones -- who could add depth to the position. The Giants seemed to limit their field by telling agents they were interested only in paying the veteran's minimum for anyone they sign, but they still expect to get a few familiar faces at their workout, including Lito Sheppard.

"We'll do the best we can do to gather as many players, quality players, as we can at this point in time," Coughlin said. "Try to get them in here for a workout and see where we are. We do have, I think it's five, healthy corners, and we certainly want to make sure that we do have more so that we can play these final couple of preseason games."

Witherspoon was playing well in training camp and increasing his chances of making the roster. When Thomas went out before halftime Monday, Witherspoon was aware of the opportunity presented for him. But his foot stuck in the turf while returning a punt and an MRI Tuesday revealed the torn ACL. He was waived/injured.

Austin, a second-round pick, missed the 2010 season at North Carolina because of an NCAA suspension. Now he'll miss the rest of this season and will have gone almost three full years between meaningful games if he returns in September 2012.

"I think the guys will rally," Coughlin said of the heavy chins at the complex Tuesday. "I think our guys will continue to believe in themselves and are certainly going to be disappointed in this news, as we all are. But we're going to have to push our way through this and maybe it will be an opportunity for someone else."

Gone so soon

A look at the Giants' league-high 10 season-ending injuries in the three weeks since the lockout ended. Not all of the players were expected to contribute during the regular season.

Yesterday CB Terrell Thomas (knee) Injured reserve

Yesterday CB Brian Witherspoon (knee) Waived/injured

Yesterday DT Marvin Austin (pectoral) Not yet designated

Yesterday CB Woodny Turenne (calf) Waived/injured

Aug. 16 WR Sam Giguere (groin) Waived/injured

Aug. 16 S Cary Harris (shoulder) Waived/injured

Aug. 5 CB Bruce Johnson (Achilles) Waived/injured

Aug. 4 DT Martin Parker (leg) Waived/injured

Aug. 1 S Chad Jones (leg) Waived/injured

Aug. 1 RB Martell Mallett (knee) Waived/injured