His first challenge was figuring out what to do.
"I was just trying to follow a veteran, but they keep moving all over the place," Amukamara said. "I am just trying to get caught up to the tempo."
That will come. For now Amukamara is playing catch-up after finally signing his contract this morning. He missed the first five practices of camp. This evening, he played a little right corner with the third-team defense.
Amukamara wouldn't speculate how far behind he is, but is confident he'll quickly make up lost ground, in the classroom and on the field.
"I am fully confident in my learning ability," he said. "I just have to put in the work and I can't take any days off when we do have days off and just continue to stay in the playbook and keep grinding.
"In Nebraska, our defense was pretty diverse and complex like it is here. I just tried to apply it to how it was there and I'm doing that right now. I am catching on pretty quickly."
White he has a lot of studying to do, Amukamara said he is in good physical condition.
"I was still training while they were having practice," he said. "I wasn't on the field doing as much as they were doing but I was lifting and conditioning. I feel like I was in great shape. I wasn't cramping but I also didn't get as many reps as those other guys. I am sure, as practice goes along, I will be able to adapt."
*The best catch of the night didn't count. Running full speed a step ahead of Michael Coe, Victor Cruz stuck out his left hand and somehow secured the ball in a one-on-one drill. Alas, he was out of bounds. Near the end of practice, Cruz jumped high to make a nice grab of a Sage Rosenfels pass…Darius Reynaud hauled in a long Eli Manning pass….Travis Beckum had another active practice.
*Mark Herzlich, the rookie free agent linebacker from Boston College, intercepted a tipped Ryan Perrilloux pass and ran until he was out of room…Safety Tyler Sash a sixth-round draft choice, picked off a long Rosenfels pass intended for Jerrel Jernigan.
*Lawrence Tynes hit all six of his field goal attempts, from 20, 28, 34, 38, 40 and 42 yards.
*Wide receivers Domenik Hixon and Devin Thomas returned to practice after sitting out yesterday, but only Hixon stayed for the full workout. Thomas dislocated a finger diving for a pass and left the field with the athletic trainers…Safety Cary Harris (shoulder) and linebacker Spencer Paysinger (groin) also departed early.
*The attendance at practice was 1,161. The Giants will practice each of the next three evenings at the Timex Performance Center. Saturday night's practice will be in full pads.
*The Giants have instituted a phone hotline for fans seeking information about training camp practices. Fans may call 201-935-8111, extension 9385 to learn about practices times and other camp info.
*Timex, the official training partner of the Giants, is providing 20 lucky fans and their guests a VIP experience hosted by Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson at the Timex Performance Center on Friday, August 19. Fans can enter by visiting Giants.com/Timex through Friday, Aug. 12
