GIANT NOTES
The Giants desperately needed positive injury news and they got some yesterday, as center Brian Williams may not be hurt as badly as the team feared.
Williams went down with a sprained left knee in the second quarter of a 41-28 Giants victory over the Jets, and at the time it was thought that Williams might miss as long as a month, putting his return for this season in doubt. An MRI revealed that there is no significant ligament damage in the knee, according to head trainer Ronnie Barnes, and that Williams should be out only two weeks. Until he returns, Derek Engler will start at center, beginning with Sunday’s game against the Bills in Buffalo.
For the third consecutive week, the Giants waived S Tre Thomas, who has spent the majority of this season on the practice squad. The Giants have a roster move available to them, but they won’t make one until later in the week and may not make one at all. It depends on the availability of CB Phillippi Sparks (groin) and S Shaun Williams (hamstring). Both are returning from injuries and if both can play, there will be no addition to the roster. If one of both cannot play, the Giants will add either Thomas or CB Reggie Stephens, a practice squad player from Rutgers.
The Bills expect to have RB Thurman Thomas back to face the Giants. Thomas missed 11 games after hurting his liver and kidneys in the season opener … Veteran and record-breaking WR Andre Reed has complained about his reduced role, with rookie Peerless Price getting a starting spot ahead of Reed. Still, when Reed lines up in the slot, he figures to be near-impossible for the inexperienced Giants DBs to handle.