Oct 15, 2008 - 7:38 PM
0 shoutsEAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Eli Manning's consecutive games played streak appears safe.
Manning said that he fully expects to start this weekend's game against the San Francisco 49ers after suffering a chest injury in the New York Giants' 35-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Monday night.
"I feel good," Manning said after practice on Wednesday. "Just as little soreness. It didn't affect the practice or throwing or keep me from doing anything I need to do."
Manning hurt his chest when he was slammed to the ground by 350-pound defensive tackle Shaun Rogers on a completion to Plaxico Burress with 10:16 remaining in the second quarter Monday night.
Manning did not miss any plays, but cameras caught him receiving treatment from the team's medical staff. He said on Wednesday while he is still feeling some residual soreness, physically he is fully ready to go.
"It is just soreness, no injury," Manning said. "It is part of football, you are going to get banged up, you are going to get some soreness here and stuff, but there is nothing injured and nothing that would cause any reason to miss any time or any practice or be worried about playing in a game."
A five-year veteran who has not missed a game since Week 11 of his 2004 rookie season, Manning has made 66 consecutive starts for the Giants (4-1), including the playoffs.
"He's going to be fine," New York head coach Tom Coughlin. "He's practicing today. He'll go today. He's sore, but a lot of people at this point in the season are sore."
Coughlin did not say if the injury contributed to Manning's poor play, but the reigning Super Bowl MVP had his worst game of the season, throwing three interceptions. The third one was returned 94 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter when the Giants were trying to rally from a 27-14 deficit.
Manning had not thrown an interception in his previous three games.
"Right after it happened, you are kind of just a little sore and trying to figure out what exactly is wrong, but I was able to finish the drive and finish the game," Manning said. "It never affected any throwing."
Monday's loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the defending Super Bowl champions, dating to a 38-35 defeat to the New England in last year's regular-season finale. It also ended New York's 11-game road winning streak.
