Giants RB Jacobs eyes Sunday return

Dec 17, 2008 - 6:58 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs gave an indication that he may play this Sunday when the team hosts Carolina in a winner-take-all clash for the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

Jacobs sat out Sunday's 20-8 loss in Dallas with an injured left knee, but he told the Newark Star-Ledger on Wednesday that he tried to lobby the trainers to allow him to play in that contest.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin has yet to comment on the status of Jacobs, who injured his knee in the Giants 20-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on December 7. However, the coach said he expected Jacobs to practice Wednesday.

"There is progress (with Jacobs), sure," Coughlin said. "He made, I think, very good progress last week. But we will see. He is going to have to go on the practice field and practice and do the things to get (himself) ready to play. And we will see it on a daily basis how he responds after practice and the next morning."

Jacobs is tied for fifth in the league with 12 touchdowns and his 1,002 yards are tied for 10th-best in the NFL.

The Giants (11-3) have wrapped up the NFC East title, but their current two-game skid has the team scrambling to secure a bye in the playoffs.

New York is in danger of finishing as the third seed in the NFC Playoffs if it loses to Carolina (11-3) and Minnesota (9-5) in the season finale.

If Atlanta (9-5) beats the Vikings this Sunday, the Giants would secure a bye regardless of what happened in their game with Carolina.