Walter Thurmond III Likely Done for Year with Torn Pectoral

Walter Thurmond and Michael Strahan – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Things just went from bad, to worse for the 0-2 New York Giants.

Free-agent acquisition and nickel cornerback Walter Thurmond III, who left Sunday’s game with the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter, suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the 25-14 defeat.

Thurmond will have surgery on Tuesday and will miss the entire 2014-215 season.

Giants CB Walter Thurmond has torn pec, per league source. Surgery this week. Done for year.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 15, 2014

Midway through the fourth quarter, Thurmond came in in an attempt to make a play on a screen pass. As Thurmond went to “punch” the ball out, his arm hit an opponent’s shoulder pads. Thurmond said he felt a stinging pain shoot up his arm, but remained in the game. Three plays later, he removed himself after struggling in press coverage.

After the game, Thurmond said his arm was “sore” and that he’d have additional tests done on Monday. Those tests, according to Pro Football Talk, showed a tear.

Thurmond, 27, signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Giants this offseason as part of the team’s secondary overhaul. Along with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Thurmond was expected to build one of the league’s best back units. Rodgers-Cromartie, and former first-round pick Prince Amukamara, manned the outside while Thurmond played nickel.

Throughout training camp, the preseason and first two games of the regular season, Thurmond displayed the physicality New York had hoped he’d bring to the defense. Not only did Thurmond walk-the-walk, but the former Seattle Seahawk enjoyed the talk just as much.

The first time Thurmond met the New York media, he boasted claims as the league’s best nickel cornerback, sparking a twitter war with Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin. He was often times seen jawing with teammates in training camp and took it upon himself to bring the “swag” to New York’s secondary.

While the Giants have yet to confirm or deny the report, if Thurmond is out for the season, the door will open for Trumaine McBride. Last season, McBride enjoyed a breakout season for the Giants.

According to Pro Football Focus, McBride graded out with a positive 6.8 rating in 2013. When quarterbacks tested McBride, their rating was a 57.4. New York re-signed McBride this offseason prior to signing Thurmond.

With the new drug policy being revamped, there is also a chance former third-round pick Jayron Hosley returns early from his four-game suspension. If that is the case, Hosley can be activated to the 53-man roster and play as early as Sunday.