Prince Amukamara's jumping jack and hopping sessions around the house were enough to convince himself on Sunday to give his ankle its first true test since he sprained it against the Chicago Bears in the Giants' third preseason game.

He ran on it and showed the training staff enough confidence to allow him to practice. So today the second-year cornerback participated in practice for the first time since suffering the high-ankle sprain and came away upbeat.

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"I did everything today besides special teams. And it felt good," Amukamara said. "I just went out there to see what I can do and if I had any limitations, but I didn't aggravate it today. It felt good. I feel like I'm still not running like how I used to, but I still feel good out there. Just taking it day-by-day."

Amukamara admitted he woke up today with some soreness in the ankle and continued to feel it after practice, but he expects it. It's a just a matter of figuring out if he can deal with the pain.

"I'm still learning that. I'm asking the players," Amukamara said. "I think it's good enough. [It's] just knowing if it's an injury or if it's just you're hurt."

Amukamara conceded it wasn't a "high-level" practice, but there was enough intensity in the session to test the ankle properly. How he feels tomorrow morning will be another indication of whether he can suit up on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Michael Coe (hamstring) out of practice today and Jayron Hosley still hampered by turf toe, the Giants secondary can use the help.

"There's always a sense of urgency in my head in just trying to get back on the field," Amukamara said. "But of course with just our cornerback situation and with guys going down, that does put pressure on me to try to get back on the field that much more, but I'm doing everything I can. Like I said last time, if there's a magic pill I'll take it."

So will he be back on the field Sunday?

"I'm very – what's the word you guys use? – optimistic," he said.

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Coe didn't practice today, but was able to run, backpedal and change direction at "75, 80 percent" on the side and is "hopeful" about practicing Wednesday.

Like Amukamara, the question now is how he feels Tuesday after a day of testing the hamstring because he doesn't want to risk further aggravation even if the Giants cornerback corps is decimated by injuries.

"Not extra pressure, but I always want to go out there and compete," Coe said. "I'm out there trying to push it as much as I can. But you have to listen to your body, especially a hamstring so if it starts to bite, or it started to twinge a little bit you can make 3 or 4 times worse and that's something that you don't want. Now that it's real mild you don’t want to make it any worse than what it is because once it gets bad it can be a six, seven-week thing."

* * *

Safety Kenny Phillips didn't practice today because of a back injury Tom Coughlin said began bothering him after the opener. But Phillips said he felt good and will practice Wednesday.

* * *

Tackle Will Beatty is making good progress after being used in a limited role (the jumbo tight end) in the opener.

"We’re moving along, trying to get more and more each day," Coughlin said. "He’s done pretty well with what we’ve asked him to do."

Beatty said he felt good on the snaps he played last week and he's "just waiting until (Coughlin) gives me the go ahead" to return to his starting left tackle job. He's been taking reps with the first and second teams.

Jorge Castillo: jcastillo@starledger.com; twitter.com/jorgeccastillo