Rare opportunity for Giants' Ware: Playing

When the Giants arrived for training camp, D.J. Ware was the only running back they had. Ahmad Bradshaw was not yet re-signed as a free agent, and Brandon Jacobs had restructured his contract and wasn't allowed to practice for the first few days. Ware said he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and make an impression on the coaching staff.

"That seems like a long time ago," Ware said Friday.

Eventually, Bradshaw came back, Jacobs returned and Ware was sent back to the shadows. In four games this year, he's played a very limited role with three carries and two receptions for a total of 27 yards. But that might change Sunday.

Jacobs suffered a mildly sprained MCL in his knee, has missed three practices this week and is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Though Bradshaw says he is capable of handling the running back load by himself, the Giants almost certainly will turn to Ware to give Bradshaw some breathers. And just as he said in July, Ware is looking forward to the opportunity.

"I didn't know what the situation was going to be with the other running backs," Ware said of when he signed just before the lockout. "I felt like it was my job to take care of me and go ahead and sign and hope for one of these opportunities. It looks like I'll get it this weekend, so I just have to make the most of it."

Ware is not shy about what he hopes to accomplish. "The goal is 100 yards, but we'll see what happens," he said. If he gets 100, he'd be the first Giants running back to do it since Bradshaw ran for 103 against the Vikings last December.

The Giants also could ask rookie Da'Rel Scott to handle a few offensive snaps, the first of his career.

"Definitely a lot of anxiety going on right now," Scott said. "I know I'm prepared as much as I can be."

Ware is far from an unknown commodity to the Giants. This is his fifth season with the team. He's spent most of that time as a part-time player -- a fill-in for practices and sometimes in games -- and a special-teams player. In his career, he has 38 carries for 183 yards. Last year against the Seahawks, he ran for 66 yards on 13 carries, both career highs, at the end of a blowout win.

"I knew my chance would come one day and when it did, I had to make sure I was prepared," Ware said of his role during his career. ". . . Whenever they call on me, my goal is to go out there and make them realize that's the position I play, running back, and that's what I'm meant to play."

Ware's style is a mix of Bradshaw's quickness and Jacobs' strength. He described his running philosophy as "trying to go downhill as fast as I can and leaving no witnesses." He'll try not to leave anything else on the field, either; at age 26 and with Scott behind him on the depth chart, these chances could be dwindling.

"I take this like it's my last time carrying the ball," Ware said, "so go out there and take advantage of the opportunity."