Giants CB Aaron Ross practices on Wednesday

Nov 12, 2009 - 12:42 AM By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) -- New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross practiced Wednesday for the first time since pulling his left hamstring in training camp in August.

Ross, who started 24 of 30 games in his first two seasons with the Giants, hopes to be ready to play when New York (5-4) returns from a bye and plays the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 22.

"This is my livelihood, this is how I feed myself, my family," Ross said. "Not being able to be out there and do it is very hard. I am very, very, very, very excited to be out there with the guys."

Ross plans to spend the next 10 days undergoing treatment and working on his conditioning.

Second-year pro Terrell Thomas has started in Ross' absence.

Secondary coach Peter Giunta said it was great to have Ross back, but he said the former first-round pick has to get some of the rust off and get his timing back.

"Hopefully, we will get a situation where he can bump people around a little rather than going right into live football the first time he makes any contact," Giunta said. "It's nice to kind of wean him in during the preseason, a few plays here and few plays there and build it up. He doesn't have that opportunity right now, so he'll have to get himself ready. When he puts some pads back on, he'll hit the sled, do some things with leg driving, wrapping up and those kinds of things."

Since Kenny Phillips was lost to a knee injury in September, the Giants have struggled at safety.

Ross played some safety at Texas, but he said would prefer returning as a cornerback.

"I just hope it helps being out there," he said.

Ross pulled his hamstring early in August and then re-injured it just before the team broke training camp.