Giants backup QB Carr gets ready to start as Manning skipped another practice

On Thursday, the New York Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning missed his second straight practice since being hurt last Sunday in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. And with two days left before Sunday’s game, Manning’s backup David Carr got ready to start against the Oakland Raiders, even though the team has not decided on whether to have Manning play.

After the practice, Coach Tom Coughlin only said that Manning’s heel was feeling better and no decision would be made until Sunday. But Carr, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2002 was not worried. He was confident that he would be the starter, and if not, nothing to lose. As previous reports said that Manning would decide not to play Sunday if he could not help the team, it is very likely Carr will be given the chance of starting his first game with the Giants. He last started a game in 2007 for the Carolina Panthers against the New Orleans Saints, with 10 for 22 for 95 yards passing and two interceptions.

Since joining the Giants and becoming Manning’s backup last season, Carr has been mostly an understudy and he appeared in only three games last season and two this year without playing time. Comparing to Manning, the eight-year veteran knows the Giants offense as well but might be less familiar with some of its subtleties than Manning. Anyway, Manning has been the team’s starting quarterback for about five years.