CHARLIE RIEDEL / Associated Press
Eli Manning hurt his foot against the Chiefs. His lofty numbers have helped the Giants to a 4-0 record.
- Different time, same place for Eagles, Trotter
- McNabb, Westbrook practice with Eagles
- Eagles Notebook: McNabb back in action for Eagles
- Eagles Notes: Eagles' Herremans takes big steps back
- LeBron: Braylon Edwards punched my friend
- 49ers want Crabtree for '09
- Favre leads Vikes over Packers
- NFL: Favre, Vikings hold off Packers
- Ashley Fox: Manning's health is a Giants test
- Bob Ford: For Eagles, the third coming of Jeremiah
- Eagletarian: The Daily News' Eagles blog
- Birds' Eye View: The Inquirer's Eagles blog
- Moving the Chains: Philly.com's NFL blog
- Buy Eagles jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and more
RELATED STORIES
Ashley Fox: Manning's health is a Giants test
Here, it's ribs. There, it's a heel. A mysteriously injured, swollen and sore right heel.
Contact columnist Ashley Fox at 215-854-5064 or afox@phillynews.com.
Quarterbacks and their injuries.
"BIG TEST FOR ELI" screamed the New York Post online edition yesterday afternoon, after the Giants said that Eli Manning would have an MRI exam to determine if there is significant damage to the quarterback's heel. "Sore and swollen," reported the New York Daily News, one day after Manning somehow hurt his foot dropping back to pass Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Manning is suffering from plantar fasciitis and is likely to play through the pain. However, there is some uncertainty, and uncertainty breeds anxiety, especially when the heart of the franchise is the one involved.
David Carr, like Kevin Kolb, is an adequate backup for the Giants. The former Houston Texans starter can keep the ship heading in the proper direction, should Manning have to snap his streak of 82 consecutive starts and miss New York's next game against Oakland. But like the Eagles, the Giants are looking past the regular-season horizon. To make noise in January, they'll need Manning at the helm.
So there's anxiety, and it speaks volumes about how valuable the 28-year-old Manning has become.
Manning injured his foot early in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs. After a play fake, Manning dropped back, planted his right leg, then gingerly and awkwardly hopped and threw a laser in the direction of Steve Smith downfield. No one touched Manning, who grabbed his Achilles tendon, fearing it had snapped.
He hobbled around for a few seconds, then lined the team up and completed a short pass to rookie Hakeem Nicks, the Giants' first-round draft pick this year, who took the ball 54 yards to the house.
Manning walked to the sideline and took his shoe and sock off. He didn't return to the game but watched the remainder of it from the sideline. Yesterday there was disagreement over whether Manning could have returned had the Giants needed him. Manning said yes. Coach Tom Coughlin said no. It didn't matter. The Giants won, 27-16, and it wasn't that close.
Part of the concern is that Manning has been lights out this season. In leading the Giants to a 4-0 record, he has completed 63.2 percent of his passes - the highest completion percentage of his career - for 1,039 yards, with eight touchdowns and two sacks. Manning is one of four quarterbacks with a triple-digit passer rating (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan are the others), and he has only been sacked twice.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Manning's season has been his poise when the game gets tight. He is playing with so much confidence and authority.
With three touchdown passes against the Chiefs, Manning is now third on the Giants' all-time list with 106, behind Phil Simms (199) and Charlie Conerly (173).
And he has that Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP trophy, which mean an awful lot inside that locker room and out.
"I think it's just time and ice and some treatment here and at home, kind of nonstop everything for the next couple of days," Manning said yesterday. "My goal is by Wednesday to be practicing and get out there and not being restricted."
That would calm some nerves.
The Giants just won three consecutive road games, are already 2-0 in the NFC East, and play the awful Raiders this weekend. Then their schedule finally heats up with New Orleans, Arizona, the Eagles and San Diego before their bye week.
New York's defense took away the opponent's passing attack two straight weeks. The Giants held Tampa Bay to 58 passing yards and Kansas City to 88.
But Drew Brees isn't Matt Cassel or Byron Leftwich. And neither is Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, or Philip Rivers. For that stretch of games, the Giants will need a healthy, effective Manning to oppose them.
So at least for the next couple of days, all eyes will be on Manning's heel.
Here's my top five at the quarter pole: 1. Giants. 2. Broncos. 3. Saints. 4. Colts. 5. Ravens. New York's top spot is contingent on Manning's health. Denver is certainly making its rookie coach look smart and no doubt gained some fans in Philadelphia with that goal-line stand against the Cowboys. New Orleans made the Jets' defense look ordinary, which was surprising.
The race to be the 2008 Lions: Kansas City. The Chiefs might not win a game this season. They certainly won't win one against the NFC East.
Contact columnist Ashley Fox at 215-854-5064 or afox@phillynews.com.
