ALBANY, N.Y. -- On the same day the Giants got positive news about Terrell Thomas, cornerback Prince Amukamara had to sit out practice because of a hamstring issue.

Head coach Tom Coughlin didn't sound too concerned and called it a "little bit" of a hamstring injury. LB Michael Boley (hamstring) returned to practice. But LB Jacquian Williams, LB Jake Muasau and LT Will Beatty also did not practice. DT Dwayne Hendricks appeared to suffer an injury to his knee -- Coughlin said there was initial concern about his MCL -- but was up on the sideline moving around afterward.

Coughlin said the news regarding Beatty is positive, but the left tackle "does have some sciatic nerve issues and they are trying to eliminate that." The team is being very cautious with Beatty.

Here are some observations from Monday's practice:

• The Giants were able to put Chase Blackburn and Boley back with the first-team linebackers. CB Michael Coe took Amukamara's spot at cornerback. S Will Hill continued to see action as the third safety, sometimes lining up with the linebackers.

• On the play that Hendricks went down on, there were several collisions at the line of scrimmage, including MLB Mark Herzlich running into RB Da'Rel Scott to stuff a run.

• The Giants have tried a few tight end screens to Martellus Bennett. I like this look a lot, as long as it doesn't take too much time to develop. Bennett followed a convoy of blockers until he was pushed out of bounds by Keith Rivers. As he trotted back past reporters on the sidelines, 'The Black Unicorn' said, "Now y'all can write about the speed." I love this guy.

• WR Dan DePalma made some more nice catches, but he's been opening eyes with his blocking as well. He delivered a great block on that tight end screen to Bennett. The more he can do, the better, because David Douglas continues to make impressive catches as well.

Douglas had a leaping grab over the middle, and another nice catch in the corner of the end zone on Janzen Jackson. Coughlin has been impressed. Douglas' cause will be aided by his ability to excel on special teams.

Still, watching DePalma and Douglas make nice catches in camp has been fun to watch.

• LB Greg Jones, who has been moving back and forth between outside and middle linebacker with Muasau out, has been physical in practice. He ran smack into RB David Wilson twice on would-be tackles.

• Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell also continues to tinker with lineups and personnel. We again saw the jumbo package of DTs Linval Joseph, Shaun Rogers and Rocky Bernard inside with two defensive ends on the outside. The Giants utilized this in clear run-stopping situations.

• On punt returns, Jerrel Jernigan had a nice one that could have been a touchdown -- always hard to see when in non-tackling snaps -- to the delight of fans. Jayron Hosley also displayed speed on one return as well.