Justin Tuck did not get his wish.
He said he planned on watching “a snippet’’ of yesterday’s Cowboys-Redskins game, depending on “how much turkey I have.’’
Asked whom he would root for in a game between two of the Giants’ NFC East rivals, Tuck said he wasn’t sure.
If the Cowboys won, he reasoned, they would be “in a virtual tie’’ with the Giants. If the Redskins won, he said “they got an opportunity to make some noise when we play them.’’
Tuck figured out a solution.
“Either way, honestly, I think it will be better if they tie, won’t it?’’ Tuck said.
There was no tie, though, as the Thanksgiving Day game went to the Redskins, 38-31. Though the victory breathes life into the Redskins (5-6) and adds to the aura of rookie Robert Griffin III, it’s the outcome the Giants needed, because it inflicts a deadly wound to the Cowboys (5-6) and means the Giants will escape the weekend in first place in the division, no matter what they do Sunday night against the Packers.
* The bye week certainly did not provide any magical healing for Ahmad Bradshaw, who has yet to practice this week after sitting out yesterday’s Thanksgiving Day practice.
Bradshaw had his neck checked out during the bye week — he missed a game earlier this season with a strained neck — and he’s been dealing with ongoing foot issues.
It was thought the week off would help what has been ailing Bradshaw but he didn’t practice on Wednesday. Often, Bradshaw only gets on the field once a week and if he doesn’t make it on Friday it would be an indication he has had a setback, which would hurt his chances to play vs. the Packers.
* WR Domenik Hixon (ankle) and DT Linval Joseph (knee) also missed the practice. Joseph said this week he expects to play this weekend, but missing two practices is not the way to get on the field. Three players again were limited in practice: safety Kenny Phillips (knee), LB Keith Rivers (calf/knee) and LB Jacquian Williams (knee).
* WR Dan DePalma was signed to the practice squad to replace WR David Douglas, who on Wednesday was signed by the Buccaneers off the Giants’ practice squad.
* It looks as if Packers LB Clay Matthews is not going to be able to play vs. the Giants. He missed last week’s victory over the Lions with a strained hamstring and yesterday sat out again. Coach Mike McCarthy said Matthews is doubtful to play.
Another Packers starter, WR Greg Jennings, practiced on a limited basis. Jennings is coming off surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle and it not expected to be ready to return to face the Giants.