EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli
Manning will have further tests on the right elbow he injured
Saturday night in a 27-21 victory over Carolina.
Manning woke up Sunday with soreness in the elbow. The
second-year quarterback had an MRI and is scheduled to be examined
by team orthopedist Dr. Russell Warren on Monday.
"Our situation is we want to wait until the complete exam is
concluded," coach Tom Coughlin said. "We're very concerned. Any
time a quarterback has soreness in his elbow there is concern. It's
not like he woke up and was out there throwing and you were getting
reports that there was nothing to it."
Manning was injured in the second quarter when Panthers
defensive end Julius Peppers came from Manning's right side and
slapped the ball out of his hand as he was about to throw it.
Peppers recovered the fumble and ran 29 yards for a touchdown.
Manning stayed in the game and threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to
Amani Toomer on the Giants' next series, but said his elbow was
bothering him on the sideline before he re-entered the game.
"It felt a little funny, but I knew I could still go in there
and throw the ball," he said. "I didn't throw it great on the
touchdown. I didn't get quite enough on it, but I got enough to get
it there."
The Giants were already looking to make a deal for a veteran
backup before Manning's injury. On Saturday, former Cleveland
Browns quarterback Tim Couch visited Giants Stadium for an
interview and workout, a Giants official confirmed.
Couch, the first pick in the 1999 draft by the Browns, was
released in 2004 and failed to make the Green Bay Packers' roster
last season. He underwent shoulder surgery in February.
"We've taken the position to scour the best talent level
available at all positions, and we'll continue to do that,"
Coughlin said Sunday. "Our position has never changed."
Journeyman Tim Hasselbeck, acquired in the offseason from
Washington, and Jesse Palmer are currently competing for the backup
position behind Manning. Hasselbeck has the edge and is 15-for-30
for 183 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in two preseason
games.
Palmer was 2-for-3 for 20 yards and an interception in the
Giants' 17-14 loss to Cleveland on Aug. 13 and did not play against
Carolina.
In other injury news, Giants cornerback Will Peterson, who
injured his knee in the first quarter against Carolina and left the
game, was diagnosed with an MCL sprain, Coughlin said.