Koets on standby for Giants if O'Hara can't play

Adam Koets was drafted by the Giants as a tackle, was moved to guard, saw the most playing time of his career last week as a tight end and could very well be the Giants' starting center Sunday against the Titans.

What would he have thought if he'd been told that on his first day as a Giant?

"I would have had no idea what you were talking about," Koets said Thursday. "But that's the way this league is. You play where you're needed."

This week he'll likely be needed to play in place of Shaun O'Hara, who has not been able to practice and is wearing a protective boot. The Giants have not ruled O'Hara out for the game, but they are moving forward with the thinking that he will not be available to them.

"You hope for the best and [O'Hara] does play, that's great," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said, "but you're prepared for the other."

Koets said he is prepared as well. He's been a Giant since he was taken in the sixth round in 2007. He has a Super Bowl ring and was named one of the team's rookies of the year that season (all of the players drafted were). But he's played only three regular-season games, two of them the death blows to the 2009 season against the Vikings and Panthers. Even then, he was just in on special teams.

His only real NFL regular-season action came in the 2008 finale at guard when the Giants already had clinched the top seed in the playoffs and rested the starters.

"It's been a hell of a deal to be a part of this offensive line," Koets said. "They've played together for so long. I haven't had the opportunity to play as much, but when you're needed, you have to step up and play. That's what I'm getting ready for Sunday."

There's a chance he won't. There's a chance that O'Hara will be able to play (although that chance decreases with each passing day). Koets could spend the whole season taking first-team reps in practice while O'Hara heals, only to have O'Hara play in the games.

Koets shrugged off that scenario. The glory of playing on Sunday? Please.

"It's for an offensive line," he said. "Hopefully, if I'm in there, you won't know the difference."