EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The banged-up New York Giants have to worry about another injury.
With 10 players already on his team's injury report, Giants coach Tom Coughlin found a new name on the list Wednesday: backup halfback Ahmad Bradshaw, who rushed for 104 yards in last weekend's 24-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bradshaw walked to practice wearing a boot on his right foot to protect sprains to his ankle and foot. He didn't work out with the team.
However, neither Coughlin nor Bradshaw seemed concerned whether the backup to starter Brandon Jacobs would play Sunday when the Giants visit the Kansas City Chiefs.
It's an old college injury, Bradshaw said, remembering his initial ailment -- a high ankle sprain -- came on a toss play during his freshman year at Marshall.
"You know what? I have played through a lot of pain during college, when I first injured it," Bradshaw said. "I have just been able to do that ever since. It always hurts during the game. There is a lot of pounding in the game. Somebody might fall on it a different way."
Bradshaw said the injury forced him to miss two games as a freshman, but he has dealt with the pain ever since then.
"I do a lot of cutting and I am always on the edge of my feet, and it is a lingering thing for a running back," said Bradshaw, who added that the pain he felt Wednesday was nothing compared to what he felt in college.
Bradshaw said the boot takes pressure off the foot and ankle.
While the Giants remain optimistic Bradshaw will play, the reality is that most players who have missed practice this season haven't played on Sundays.
If that's the case, undrafted rookie Gartrell Johnson would back up Jacobs. Johnson was signed a week into the season after Danny Ware dislocated his elbow on the opening kickoff in the season opener.
"I think I'm ready," said Johnson, who had six carries for 23 yards against the Bucs. "Getting some good game time last week was good for me. I need to get my timing down, so I have a lot to improve on."
Johnson still has a lot to learn. He was awarded to the Giants on waivers after being cut by the San Diego Chargers hours before the season opener. He flew cross-country to join his new team and has been taking a crash course on the Giants' offense for the past two weeks.
"That's just the name of the game, that's just the NFL," said Johnson, who's still living in a hotel because he hasn't had time to find an apartment. "You just never know. You always have to be prepared."
Jacobs obviously will receive the bulk of the carries against the Chiefs. He had a season-high 26 carries for 92 yards and one touchdown last week as the Giants rushed for 226 yards on 49 attempts.
Quarterback Eli Manning echoed the approach the Giants take to all injuries: When someone goes down, the next guy steps up.
"We know whoever is back there, they will know what to do," Manning said, adding if they don't, he'll tell them. "We will be on the same page. Guys will step up for us and make plays."
Guard Rich Seubert said Johnson was impressive against the Bucs.
"He ran the ball hard," Seubert said. "It was exciting to see him out there. I think he will fit in fine, if we need him."
Besides Bradshaw and Ware, defensive linemen Chris Canty (calf) and Justin Tuck (shoulder) didn't practice with the Giants on Wednesday. Tuck, who was in for eight plays against the Bucs, said his left shoulder is improving and he expects to play more in Kansas City.
Cornerbacks Aaron Ross (hamstring) and Kevin Dockery (hamstring), wide receivers Hakeem Nicks (foot) and Domenik Hixon (knee) and linebacker Clint Sintim (groin) were limited in practice, and offensive linemen Kareem McKenzie (knee) and Adam Koets (ankle) fully participated.
