AP

Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas’ comeback from a third torn ACL will take a major step forward on Saturday when Thomas takes the field against the Jets.

It will be Thomas’ first game action of any kind since an August 22, 2011 preseason game against the Bears. Thomas tore his ACL in that game and then tore it again before preseason action got underway last summer, which means that more than two full years of watching and rehabbing at MetLife Stadium.

Dave Hutchinson of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Giants coach Tom Coughlin was enthusiastic about Thomas’ recent practice performances when he announced that the cornerback would be making his return to the lineup. Coughlin called an interception during practice “very good” and said that he was looking forward to watching the practice tape of Thomas from Wednesday.

If Thomas makes it through the game unscathed, talk will turn to what kind of role he’d play in the Giants secondary in 2013. There’s been talk of Thomas seeing time at safety, but the Giants have plenty of player at both secondary spots vying for snaps at the moment. While the Giants have shown admirable patience with Thomas over the last two years, he’ll need to show that he’s capable of making an impact on the team to get one of the 53 spots on the roster come the end of the month.