ALBANY, N.Y. -- Wide receiver Plaxico Burress attempted to practice for the first time since spraining his right ankle on Aug. 2.
But after working a couple of minutes with the receivers, he had to quit because his ankle bothered him too much. He then stood on the sidelines and watched the rest of practice.
"We tried to get a day out of him," Coughlin said. "He started with his group and then all of a sudden he felt like he wasn't ready and couldn't go."
Cornerback Corey Webster missed practice with a hip injury, while rookie TE Kevin Boss missed his second straight day with a bruised shoulder.
Coughlin is uncertain about the status of long-snapper Ryan Kuehl, who suffered a severe calf injury early in camp.
"That is going to be a tough one," Coughlin said. "I think he is making progress, but it is really small strides."
Backup tight end Darcy Johnson has been placed on injured reserve with a knee problem by the New York Giants.
The move was one of seven the team made Wednesday, including the signing of defensive tackle Manuel Wright, who has battled weight and emotional issues in two years at the NFL level.
New York also waived-injured defensive end Dek Bake (back) and cornerback Travonti Johnson (leg), while guard Chris Patrick was waived outright. Also signed were offensive linemen Myniya Smith and Dan Parrish.
Darcy Johnson, who spent most of last season on the Giants practice squad before being activated for the regular-season finale and the playoff game, partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg Tuesday. He will need surgery, general manager Jerry Reese said.
Wright played at Southern California and was taken by the Miami Dolphins in the 2005 draft. He had injury problems in training camp and cried after then-Dolphins coach Nick Saban yelled at him in practice in a highly publicized incident.
Wright played three games as a rookie. He had a weight problem in training camp in 2006 and left the team. Miami placed him on the non-football injury list, and then released him this May. He was claimed by Buffalo and released a week later.
"I do not think he is completely in shape," coach Tom Coughlin said of Wright, whose current weight was not immediately available. "He has come down from being a little bit heavy, so I think he can go down some more. Obviously two-a-days will help him a lot. He will not get many of those now."
The University of Albany on Thursday will dedicate the practice field used by its football team during the season to recently deceased New York Giants co-owners Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch.
Mara and Tisch were instrumental in making the university the home of the Giants' summer training camp, beginning in 1996.
"I think that's a wonderful idea to recognize those two gentlemen who are pillars of the National Football League and the community," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Wednesday. "They are both great men in their own right. For the University at Albany to recognize those gentlemen and their contributions is a wonderful thing."
The Giants are committed to training at Albany through 2008 with an option for 2009.
NOTES: WR Marco Thomas had three catches in practice Wednesday. The free agent from Western Illinois has had an impressive training camp. ... TE Jeremy Shockey ended the practice by catching a touchdown pass from Eli Manning in the corner of the end zone. The throw came a few plays after WR Steve Smith, the second-round draft pick, dropped a touchdown pass from Jared Lorenzen. ... S Will Demps intercepted a weak halfback option pass by Derrick Ward. ... PK Lawrence Tynes made 3-of-4 field goal attempts, while free agent PK Josh Huston hit 2-of-3 tries.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
