EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eli Manning got under the center and everything looked normal, for the most part.
He identified the middle linebacker, barked out a few signals and took the snap from Shaun O’Hara. The only thing out of the ordinary Monday was this: Manning was wearing a blue Giants baseball cap to cover his head and the mending 3-inch wound on the left side of his forehead.
The Giants had their quarterback back at practice and getting ready to start Saturday’s preseason game against the Ravens in Baltimore.
“I liked his tempo right away,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “He got the ball out of his hand quick and made some real good decisions. So we’re glad to have him back on the practice field.”
Manning, who intends to wear his helmet at practice Wednesday, left no doubt before practice that he will play against the Ravens.
“If everything goes according to plan, yes,” Coughlin said.
Meanwhile, Giants cornerback Aaron Ross probably is going to be sidelined this week because of in- flammation in his right foot.
Bears sign quarterback Collins
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Todd Collins, a 38-year-old longtime NFL backup quarterback, signed a one-year contract with the Bears, with an eye on taking the backup spot away from injured Caleb Hanie.
“I plan to,” Collins said. “I’m out there to compete. I’m not going to just sell myself short.”
Hanie, a former Colorado State standout, suffered a right shoulder sprain in the preseason opener at San Diego. There is no timetable for Hanie’s return, although coach Lovie Smith has said it’s possible he could be out until the regular season.
“My reaction is I’ve just got to keep on plugging away at getting better and all the work that I’ve done to this point,” Hanie said about the signing. “I just need to keep on building on that. I need to get back from my injury quickly.”
Simms has new date — with court
NEW YORK — Titans backup quarterback Chris Simms needs to add a new date to his 2010 season: an Oct. 7 trial in his New York City drugged- driving case.
Simms didn’t make it to a Manhattan court date in the case, which stems from a July 1 arrest. Police said he admitted smoking marijuana in his car; he claims they misquoted him. Simms, 29, was stopped at a checkpoint, with his pregnant wife in the car. According to court documents filed by prosecutors, he slurred his words as he told police: “I was smoking marijuana in the car earlier. I took four puffs.”
Simms’ lawyers have said he was just talking about smoking cigarettes, and they argue police had no justification for stopping or arresting him.
Simms said this month he “definitely didn’t say” what authorities said he did, and he called the episode embarrassing to him and his family.
Footnotes.
With quarterback A.J. Feeley nursing a thumb injury, No. 1 draft pick Sam Bradford is expected to start Thursday night at New England.
• Redskins free safety Kareem Moore (knee) is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.
• The Cowboys won’t play free safety Gerald Sensabaugh (shoulder) the rest of this preseason.
• Raiders wide receiver Chaz Schilens went to a knee specialist to determine whether he needs surgery.
• The Jets and center Nick Mangold are close on a contract extension, while defensive end Ropati Pitoitua went on injured reserve with a torn left Achilles tendon.
• The Saints waived running back P.J. Hill, who has a season-ending partial triceps tear.
The Associated Press
