Giants shorthanded again this week

The Giants beat the Patriots earlier this month without a starting running back, a starting receiver and a starting offensive lineman. They might have to try to pull off the same kind of short-handed stunner against the Saints on Monday night.

Mario Manningham missed a third practice this week with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for the game. The wide receiver has had swelling in his knee for the last several weeks -- it first popped up on the injury report Nov. 10 -- and has played through it. On Friday, Manningham insisted he will play.

"I've been here for four years with the same quarterback," he said, stating that missing practices would not hinder him in a game. "I've missed one game earlier in the season but I don't think it makes a difference. We have more practices than games year-round."

That Manningham has been ruled questionable and not doubtful leaves open the real possibility that he will be able to play. According to the injury-report terminology, "questionable" means a 50-50 chance of participation.

Manningham is only one of the Giants' injury concerns. The team already had ruled out LT Will Beatty (eye) and did the same for RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) and CB Derrick Martin (hamstring) Saturday. They listed LB Michael Boley (hamstring) as doubtful, but it's unlikely he will make the flight to New Orleans Sunday and probably will be downgraded.

"Hamstrings are tricky," Boley said. "You can think you feel better and get out there and pull it again. That's not what I want . . . For a hamstring, you should take your time with it. The more you try to push yourself too early, you're just going to set yourself back."

DE Justin Tuck (ankle, shoulder), RT Kareem McKenzie (toe), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) and RB D.J. Ware (concussion) all practiced Saturday and were listed as probable for Monday. WR Michael Clayton was placed on IR with a torn meniscus and DE Justin Trattou was promoted from the practice squad to take his place.

Grant's tune

With Boley out last week, veteran safety Deon Grant wore the radio helmet that allows communication with the sideline. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Grant will wear it again Monday night if Boley is unable to play.

"He's going to be on the field more because of the different packages that we run," Fewell said when asked why he chose Grant. "He's on the field, being able to communicate more than our other linebackers. Based upon who the person is that's on the field the most, we can have the fluid line of communication with that person."

Giant steps

Since 1990, the Giants are 8-3 when facing a team coming off its regular-season bye, as the Saints are this week . . . Lawrence Tynes has 21 touchbacks on kickoffs this season, the same number he had in the previous four years combined, thanks to the new rule that moved kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 . . . The Giants are 22-31-1 on Monday Night Football, including a win over the Rams in Week 2 earlier this season.