Terrell Thomas was one of the best cornerbacks for the New York Giants for his first three seasons, but has been absent over the past two years while dealing with knee injuries.
Thomas made a comeback from a second surgery prior to the 2012 season, but suffered an injury to his right ACL, forcing him into a third surgery on his knees. According to ESPNNewYork.com, Thomas will attempt a third comeback from his knee injuries after undergoing surgery to fix his ACL in September.
Over his college and professional career, Thomas has dealt with serious knee issues, tearing his right ACL in the 2011 preseason and also while playing for USC. The surgery was performed by
"I know I have been MIA for a long time," Thomas wrote on his blog. "I just wanted to thank everyone for their continuing support. I am returning to football in 2013 hopefully with the Giants, but my contract is up this year but most likely, hopefully I will be re-signing with them."
Thomas also wrote that "contract is up this year," although he is still with the team. Thomas was referring to a $6 million option that is due in March that was added into the four-year deal he signed in free agency last year, giving the Giants some security in case of an injury. The deal was reported to be up to $28 million.
Thomas said he hoped to stay with the team and will need to work out a new deal to do so. The team drafted him in the second round with the 63rd pick in 2008 out of USC and he quickly became one of the most talented defensive backs on the team, along with starter Corey Webster.
During his rookie season, Thomas played in 12 games and made 45 tackles with one interception and four passes defended. He greatly improved the next season, making 85 tackles and snagging five interceptions with 13 passes defended. Thomas played in 16 games in both 2009 and 2010 and made a career high 101 tackles with five interceptions, four forced fumbles and five interceptions with 21 passes defended.
Throughout his career, Thomas has recorded 231 tackles with 2.0 sacks, 11 interceptions and 38 passes defended. The Giants suffered over the past two seasons without Thomas, ranking in the bottom half of the league in passing yards.
This season Thomas attempted to make a comeback from his previous knee surgery, but was hurt in training camp when he slipped and injured the knee again. It appeared as if he would be able to return sometime this season, but the Giants decided to put him on season-ending injured reserve.
The team has dome depth at cornerback with 2012 third-round pick Jayron Hosley and former first round pick Prince Amukamara, but they will need more than that to compete next year. Thomas was penciled in as the longtime starter opposite Webster, but has been unable to stay healthy for a consistent period of time. Defensive back Kenny Phillips has also dealt with knee injuries in the past and missed time this year.
Thomas said he is determined to be the "same player I have been."
"Most importantly just wanted to reconnect with you guys and tell you I have been training and preparing," Thomas wrote. "I took a little break from social media to focus on my knee, my mental; it has been hard on me.
Following the end of the 2012 season, general manager Jerry Reese spoke about the team and Thomas in particular to WFAN on the radio.
"Terrell obviously has the multiple knee surgeries so he will have to tread lightly on that and see where he is physically," Reese said on WFAN about two weeks ago, according to ESPNNewYork.com. "Right now, he is still rehabbing. We will definitely reach out to him and see where he is and see if he is going to be able to try to make another comeback."
Thomas is currently rehabbing in Florida where he will continue to train and get ready for 2013 training camp. According to NJ.com, he is beginning a new training and diet regimen at the Andrews Institute in Pensacola, Fla. Noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews previously repaired his knee.
"I'm on a thirty-day diet," Thomas continued. "I have moved to Pensacola for the next month to train and rehab. I want to give you guys updates that 2012 season is over and I can make a comeback and be the same player I have been. The biggest challenge is going to be 200 pushups and 300 abs a night for 30 days. If you guys are with me, let's do it."
The recovery for Thomas will be similar to what Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis did this season. Following a third ACL surgery, Davis recovered and played in 15 games this year with the Panthers, making 103 tackles after playing in just nine games of the previous two seasons.
In his last game with the Giants, Thomas made 10 tackles against the Washington Redskins and has one pass defended.
Thomas was considered to be one of the top defensive backs in the draft after playing at USC, where he was named Second-team All-Pac-10 twice. He was to the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List and played under head coach Pete Carroll before he went to coach the Seattle Seahawks.
During his senior year at USC, Thomas had 57 passes thrown on his side of the field, allowing only 29.8% of those passes to be completed, one of the best on the Trojans. He has played time at safety and is considered to be an above average man-to-man cornerback.
The Giants greatly missed him this season, as Webster struggled during the year at time. Amukamara was solid throughout the season, but Hosley was beat badly a few times during the course of the year while learning the position. The Giants were ranked 28th in passing, allowing 254 yards per game.
