Wilkinson suffered a mild medial collateral sprain of his right knee Monday night vs. Cleveland and could use the rest, while Kehl, who has played well, would profit from the game experience as the only WLB.

In the end, it could turn out to be a crucial decision, but for now it just seems to make Giants head coach Tom Coughlin nervous.

--Coach Tom Coughlin has two viable place-kickers, Lawrence Tynes and John Carney.

Tynes was the incumbent, kicked all last season and among his highlights was the 47-yard field goal in overtime of the NFC Championship Game that took the Giants past the home-standing Green Bay Packers and into Super Bowl XLII -- which they won.

But Tynes sprained his knee in training camp, forcing the Giants to look elsewhere. The fact that they did not place him on injured reserve indicated they were confident he'd be able to return this season. So they hired the 44-year-old Carney, and all he has done in his relief role is make all 15 extra point tries and all 12 field-goal opportunities he has had. That's right, he has a perfect record.

So the other day Tynes announced to the media that he's ready and that he expects to be the team's kicker Sunday when the Giants face the visiting San Francisco 49ers and attempt to recover from their Monday night loss in Cleveland, the one that spoiled their perfect (then 4-0) season.

Will Tynes really be the Giants' kicker? Will Coughlin really dismiss the veteran who has accounted for 51 points so far without missing a thing?

PLAYER NOTES

--C Shaun O'Hara returned home from Cleveland and was taken to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan for treatment of an infected toe. O'Hara is expected to play Sunday.

--WR David Tyree, one of the Super Bowl heroes last season, practiced with the team Wednesday for the first time all season. He has been on the PUP list since well before the season began (knee surgery), and the Giants now have three weeks to decide whether to add him to the active roster, keep him on PUP or release him.

--Despite frequent successes, second-year RB Ahmad Bradshaw wasn't used at all vs. Cleveland and only sparingly this season. He has 119 yards in 18 carries, two receptions for 23 yards, two TDs and has a 21.5 KO return average on 13 tries. He's going to have to play soon.

--K John Carney hasn't missed yet, not on 15 PAT tries and not on 12 FG attempts. He has 51 total points. Incumbent Lawrence Tynes, still on the active roster but not used yet this season, had 109 points last year and missed four of 27 FG attempts in the regular season.

--WR Sinorice Moss, who had two TD catches vs. Seattle Oct. 5, was on the Game Inactive list last Monday night. Clearly, it was to keep him healthy if the trade with K.C. for TE Tony Gonzalez had worked out; equally obviously, he should play this Sunday vs. the 49ers.

GAME PLAN: For the Giants, who always play to their strengths, the game plan will remain untouched for this week. It consists of running and running until the defense has to come up to stop it, then throwing deep and medium-range passes. Defense is the other ingredient in the Giants' success -- strong, nearly-brutal defense that cuts down the run and mounts seek-and-destroy missions each time the QB drops to pass.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Giants LDE Justin Tuck vs. 49ers RDE Barry Sims - Tuck has three QB sacks and will use his speed off the snap, quick moves and 6-5, 270-pound frame to torment the journeyman Sims, in his 10th year. Tuck is faster, quicker and more athletic than Sims, originally a member of the Raiders after being signed as an undrafted rookie by Oakland in 1999.

Giants WR Plaxico Burress vs. 49ers CB Nate Clements: Burress, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, will be covered by one of the best CBs in the league. This should be great matchup between the 6-5, 225-pound Burress and the 6-0, 205-pound Clemens.

Giants RBs Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward vs. 49ers RILB Patrick Willis: Willis, the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, will try to shut off the inside running by Jacobs and then Ward. Jacobs is 6-4, 265; Willis is 6-1, 240.

INJURY IMPACT:

--QB Eli Manning, who suffered a bruised chest Monday night when he fell on the ball and 360-pound (or so) Browns DT Shaun Rogers fell on him, discounted any reports that he might miss the start. "It's fine," he said. "That's a big man and he fell right on me, but there is no serious injury." An MRI exam proved that.

--MLB Antonio Pierce (quad strain) came out for a while Monday night, then re-entered the game. It was the same situation that had troubled him all during the previous week, but he says he'll be fine. He did miss practice on Wednesday, however.