EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — With 79 career starts, David Carr knows how much Eli Manning wants to be on the field calling the plays when the Giants meet the Raiders on Sunday.
Manning’s teammates say he’s a competitor who will play if he’s able. Carr wants to be out there just as much, and his chances of playing this weekend seemingly improved when Manning missed his second straight practice Thursday with an injured right heel.
After practice, coach Tom Coughlin declined to predict whether Manning would be able to start his 83rd consecutive game, saying only that that inflammation in Manning’s heel was feeling better.
A decision on whether Manning plays might not be made until Sunday.
The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2002, Carr isn’t worried. He told himself that he was going to be the starter after Manning was hurt last Sunday in a win over Kansas City, and the worst that can happen is he doesn’t.
“You have to prepare yourself one way or you are going to be riding a rollercoaster all week,” said Carr, who last started a game in 2007 for the Panthers. He was 10-for-22 for 95 yards passing and two interceptions in a loss to New Orleans.
“I am sure he wants to play really bad, probably as bad as I want to play,” Carr said of Manning. “It’s the same for every competitor, every guy who wants to be on the field. Everybody gets hurt. We’re down a lot of guys now and I think everyone on the side wants to be out there to help the team.”
Hasselbeck could return Sunday
RENTON, Wash. — All signs are pointing toward Matt Hasselbeck returning to quarterback the Seahawks on Sunday against Jacksonville.
The three-time Pro Bowler looked sharp while completing a second consecutive practice. It’s his first work since he broke a rib Sept. 20 on a dive for the goal line at San Francisco.
The team officially listed him as limited on the daily practice report it filed to the league. Hasselbeck took the majority of snaps with the first-team offense, with backup Seneca Wallace left with only a few.
Hasselbeck didn’t look very limited to top receiver Nate Burleson. He expects Hasselbeck to be throwing to him Sunday.
“Yeah, he wouldn’t be taking as many reps as he has this week if he wasn’t,” Burleson said. “Plus, he looks good, really zipping the ball in there.”
Footnotes.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to conduct a hearing next month on the case of Vikings defensive linemen Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, whose suspensions were blocked by a federal appeals court. Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said he is concerned the legal issues raised in the case “could result in weaker performance-enhancing drugs policies for professional sports.”
• Cowboys center Andre Gurode (knee) returned to practice, while receiver Roy Williams (rib), running back Felix Jones (knee) and safety Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb) remained sidelined.
• Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson is practicing again after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, but coach Raheem Morris said a decision has not been made on whether he’ll play Sunday against the Eagles.
• Leon Clarke, a two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Los Angeles Rams, died of pancreatitis Monday in Los Alamitos, Calif. He was 76.
