Giants' offensive line could be down two starters Sunday

It appears the Giants will be without two of their starting offensive linemen Sunday in Washington for a game that could go a long way toward ensuring a postseason appearance.

Left guard Justin Pugh will miss his second game in a row with a concussion and likely will be joined on the inactive list by center Weston Richburg. Richburg, who sprained an ankle against the Patriots on Nov. 15, was listed as doubtful Friday despite having practiced on a limited basis earlier in the week.

John Jerry will start his second consecutive game in place of Pugh. Richburg is expected to be replaced by Dallas Reynolds, who hasn't started a game in almost three seasons and never has started one in a Giants uniform.

Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo doesn't seem terribly worried that having to shuffle the line for a second straight week will be a problem.

"Very confident, yeah, very confident," McAdoo said of his attitude. "We had a good week this week. Dallas Reynolds came in, we haven't missed a beat so far up front. He does a nice job directing traffic for us. We'll need a big week from those guys this week. Washington does a nice job of creating some havoc."

Said Giants coach Tom Coughlin: "[It's a challenge] any time your starters are out. But we try to be in a position where guys come along and play and play well. That's what we need again."

The Giants also will be without tight end Larry Donnell again. Donnell, who injured his neck while making a diving catch in a Nov. 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints, had expressed some optimism early this week that he might be back for Washington. After additional tests, however, that optimism seems to have faded.

"There is concern or he'd be able to play," Coughlin said. "The fact is [he's] not where [the doctors] want him to be when they give him the green light, so he's not ready to go . . . He gets a test pretty much every week. So we're in a holding pattern there."

The Giants have not said specifically what Donnell's neck injury is. "It's in pretty rough shape," Donnell said. "It's going to be a while before I'm able to play again."

Notes & quotes: Hakeem Nicks, whom the Giants added to their roster during the bye week to take the place of the injured Victor Cruz, could see some action Sunday. "He had a good week of practice, caught the ball well, seemed to pick up with the signals and with the offense," Coughlin said. "To what extent is he really prepared? Not going to give you percentages, but I think he's done a good job . . . If he's called upon, he'd be ready to go." . . . Cornerback Prince Amukamara is expected to return after missing five games with a partially torn pectoral muscle . . . Linebacker J.T. Thomas, who missed the previous three games with an ankle injury, is questionable.

By Barbara Barker

barbara.barker@newsday.commeanbarb

Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.