If Goff is placed on injured reserve, he will miss the entire season unless the Giants risk placing him on waivers (and they won't). That could force a shift on the defense and the easiest solution is to start teaching another draft pick, fourth rounder Bryan Kehl (BYU) the intricacies of middle linebacker; he is currently one of the weak-side linebackers.

PLAYER
--RG Chris Snee (tendinitis, shoulder) insisted on playing Thursday night against Detroit and came out of his brief tour of duty (as did all the offensive starters) without further injuring himself. "When he says he's ready to play, then he's ready to play," said OL coach Pat Flaherty, "and there's no talking him out of it."

--TE Kevin Boss entrenched himself as the starter, while Darcy Johnson, who missed all of 2007 with a knee injury, did not have an overly productive game, missed at least two blocks and will have to fight to keep Michael Matthews from taking over his backup spot.

--Without veteran Jeremy Shockey (traded to New Orleans), tight ends coach Mike Pope jokes about his five hopefuls. "I tell people that none of them can rent a car," he says, "because none of them are old enough."

--It is going to be increasingly difficult to waive FA Brandon London, who spent last season on the practice squad. The split end with good size (6-4, 210) and speed has been one of the stars in camp and has taken over with the "ones" while veteran Plaxico Burress nurses his ailing contract and ankle.

--Nagging injuries have kept rookie WR Mario Manningham (quad), OT Shane Olivea (back), TE Eric Butler (ankle), safety Nehemiah Warrick (knee) and WR David Tyree (knee) off the practice field.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: It is beginning to look as though Steve Smith is going to have to fight relative unknown Brandon London for the third receiver spot behind the starters, Amani Toomer and the currently sidelined Plaxico Burress. Smith has had various "minor" injuries while London has sparkled while filling in for Burress.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: QB David Carr, who was the NFL's first overall draft pick in 2002 (Houston's first-ever choice), played remarkably well and with a veteran's poise vs. Detroit and might vault over Anthony Wright as the backup to Eli Manning. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 104 yards and the team's only touchdown.

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: DE Renaldo Wynn is fighting successfully to become the third man in, which will give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a comfort zone and enable him to leave Mathias Kiwanuka at strong-side linebacker. Wynn was signed to replace the retired Michael Strahan.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: FS Kenny Phillips, the first-round draft choice, has been little short of sensational thus far and should be able to force Michael Johnson into the second unit by the time the season starts. He had six tackles, a defensed pass and a spectacular "read" of an end-around in which he was positioned where the runner was going, clearly reading the seal-off blocking stance by the right tackle.

ROOKIE REPORT: FS Kenny Phillips may well earn a starting spot by opening day. He is instinctive, intuitive and hits like a truck. Getting the entire playbook into his head and getting him to react without thinking about it seem to be the only drawbacks to a Rookie of the Year challenge. ... CB Terrell Thomas is going to wind up as the third man in, or a nickel corner. He has size and quickness. ... WR Mario Manningham has to stay healthy before he can be a factor, but he has flashed outstanding speed and good hands. ... LB Bryan Kehl is going to make the team, play on specials and compete for a backup job at WLB. ... LB Jon Goff suffered a fractured transverse process and might be on season-ending IR before long. ... QB Andre Woodson, who has looked reasonably good, is for next year. ... DE Robert Henderson (sprained ankle), a sixth-round pick, was waived/injured.

INJURY REPORT: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle, foot, contract) has been up-raming his workload, but has not run full-speed routes yet. WR Mario Manningham (quad) day-to-day. WR David Tyree (knee) is still on PUP. OT Shane Olivea (back) should return this week. LB Jonathan Goff (fractured transverse process) might miss the season. DE Robert Henderson (ankle) will return soon but may be overmatched. DE Wallace Gilberry (ankle) is training camp fodder. SS Nehemiah Warrick (ankle) might be a practice squad hopeful. CB Darren Barnett (ankle) has shown some ability. TE Eric Butler (ankle) can only hope for a practice squad job.