The fifth-round draft pick from Vanderbilt broke part of a vertebra in his lower back in the second quarter of the preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.

The team has not decided whether to place Goff on injured reserve or give him more time to recover. If he is placed on injured reserve, he cannot play or practice with the team.

Coughlin was surprised that cornerback Darren Barnett and tight end Eric Butler did not practice on Saturday. The two free agents sprained ankles on Thursday night.

Receiver Steve Smith returned to practice on Saturday. He has been sidelined with a groin injury and did not play against Detroit.

Meanwhile, doctors told Coughlin that receiver Plaxico Burress' troublesome right ankle appears to be getting better.

Burress, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the Super Bowl, has not practiced since the Giants opened training camp more than two weeks ago.

"His running has increased," Coughlin said. "Hopefully, we'll get something done. I have talked to Plax and showed him our schedule and he knows the time left to prepare ourselves. He knows and agrees that we don't want to break camp without him having gotten anything done."

The Giants have a week of training camp left at the University at Albany, leaving on Aug. 17.

Burress had a career-high 12 touchdown catches last season.