Giants: Favre will start, but can he finish?
Brett Favre did not practice Thursday, the second straight day he sat out with a sore throwing shoulder. But the Giants still expect him to start for the Vikings against them Sunday.
Asked if he has any doubt whether Favre will start for the 298th straight game, Justin Tuck tersely said, "No. He's going to play."
There is a chance the streak will end Sunday, though. Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said earlier in the week that the Giants' ferocious pass rush will play a small role, but a role nonetheless, in his decision whether to start Favre or the more mobile Tarvaris Jackson.
If Favre does play, it will not be at full strength. He suffered a broken foot earlier this season and has had difficulty even lifting his right arm this week.
Does an injured quarterback arouse the hunting instincts of the Giants, who already have knocked five quarterbacks out of games this season? "We don't really think about that," Osi Umenyiora said. " . . . No matter who we're playing, if he's hurt or not hurt, we're going to try to attack him anyway."
The Giants are convinced that Favre will start. Finishing is a different story. "I hope not," Tuck said of Favre lasting all 12 rounds. "I have a lot to do with that."
Bradshaw back
Ahmad Bradshaw practiced, returning from a wrist injury that kept him out earlier in the week. "I just fell on it a little bit," he said of the soreness he experienced from the 25 carries against Redskins. "We fall a lot."
Giant steps
WRs Hakeem Nicks (leg) and Steve Smith (pectoral) remain on track to play. Nicks had half the stitches from his surgery removed Wednesday and said he expects to get the final clearance to play Saturday night . . . T David Diehl practiced fully and also is expected to return.
More Giants
