Giants linebacker Clint Sintim’s 2010 season ended early when he suffered a torn right ACL in December. After spending eight months rehabbing that knee injury, Sintim got healthy enough that he could return to the field — and now his 2011 season has ended before it began, thanks to another right knee injury.

Sintim suffered a ruptured patella tendon during Thursday night’s preseason game and will not play at all this year.

“It’s unfortunate,” Sintim said. “I worked really hard to get back. And um . . . it’s just unfortunate.”

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he admired how hard Sintim worked to get back on the field.

“Works his tail off, really didn’t say a word the whole preseason, just did what he had to do, worked on the field,” Coughlin said. “And then to see that happen tonight. It was devastating.”

Sintim said he was crushed when he felt the tendon tear in his knee, but that he has no plans to quit and will start working toward a 2012 return.

“I knew as soon as I hit [the ground],” he said. “I knew. . . . But that’s the way football is. I’m going to give myself a couple of days and I’m going to get back on the grind.”