National Football League

Giants G Chris Snee uncertain with knee injury

Published Dec. 16, 2009 8:35 p.m. ET

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Rich Seubert waited for fellow Chris Snee to walk from the trainer's room to his locker before raising his voice for everyone to hear.

``Chris Snee is at his locker,'' Seubert bellowed Thursday afternoon in the New York Giants' locker room.

Snee just looked in Seubert's direction and shook his head. No words came out of his mouth, although the ``thanks for nothing'' was loud and clear.

Snee is one of the main story lines as the Giants (7-5) prepare for Sunday's NFC East showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), who share first place in the division with Dallas with four games to go in the season.

Probably the Giants' best offensive lineman, Snee is a question mark this week. He injured his left knee in Sunday's 31-24 win over the Cowboys and he did not play in the second half.

Snee did not practice on Wednesday. He worked out on a limited basis on Thursday, improving his chances of playing on Sunday and extending his streak of consecutive starts to 77 straight games.

``I have nothing to say,'' Snee said when asked how he felt. He deferred all questions about his injury to coach Tom Coughlin, his father-in-law.

When told Coughlin said he was limited at practice, Snee laughed.

``I'm always limited,'' said Snee, who went to the Pro Bowl last season. ``I'm a limited athlete.''

Seubert was willing to speculate.

``This is the last guy you'd expect to miss a game,'' Seubert said. ``He's tough as nails.''

If Snee is unable to play, veteran Kevin Boothe will replace him. Boothe, who filled in at right guard in the second half in last week's 31-24 win over Dallas, has not started a game since 2006 with Oakland.

Boothe is preparing to play but he also believes Snee will be in the lineup on Sunday.

``This is Chris Snee we are talking about,'' Boothe said. ``He is as tough as they come.''

Boothe, who played well after replacing Snee against the Cowboys, said he is not preparing any differently this week. The Giants dress seven offensive linemen for games and he backs up at both guard and tackle positions.

``When I am out there I am just trying to be as anonymous as possible,'' Boothe said. ``The best situation is when nobody knows Chris is out of the game.''

Whoever plays, the Giants are going to need a big effort from their offensive line, especially if the forecast for inclement weather is on the mark.

Eli Manning is not the best poor weather quarterback and the Giants will need a running game to slow down the Eagles defense.

``No question, you want that in every game,'' halfback Brandon Jacobs said. ``You want to keep an explosive offense like that off of the field, no matter who you are playing against and no matter how good your defense is. You want to keep an offense like that on the sideline where they can't do any harm.''

The Giants' running game has slipped this season. After averaging 157.4 yards rushing last season, New York is averaging 124.6 this year. Jacobs has yet to have a 100-yard game.

``Last year was like Haley's Comet,'' center Shaun O'Hara said. ``Sure the numbers are down. But all we are looking to do is gain 100 yards.''

NOTES: S Michael Johnson, who has a groin injury, also practiced on a limited basis Thursday. Backup halfback Ahmad Bradshaw did not practice but he is expected to work out on Friday. Manning (foot), running back D.J. Ware (concussion) and tight end Travis Beckum (groin) practiced fully.