ALBANY, N.Y. -- Guard Chris Snee and wide receiver Steve Smith, both of whom played in the Pro Bowl after the 2009 season, and at least five other players will miss the New York Giants' preseason opener against the New York Jets on Monday night.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin said tight end Kevin Boss, linebacker Keith Bulluck, safeties Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson and wide receiver Tim Brown also won't play.
The news isn't all bad on the injury front, however, as Smith and Boss are expected to return to practice Wednesday.
Guard Rich Seubert, who returned to practice this week after breaking his left hand, has said he also won't play in the first NFL game at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
The rash of injuries forced Coughlin to change Saturday's planned two-hour practice at the University at Albany from a full workout to a walkthrough. Two of the Giants' past three practices have been walkthroughs.
Coughlin made the decision to change the practice schedule Friday night.
"We have a number of people playing in a limited fashion, and a number of people that are out so there really wasn't a whole lot (to do)," Coughlin said. "I wasn't willing to go ahead and risk having somebody else pull up."
Smith, who set a franchise record with 107 catches last season, has a groin problem. Boss, the No. 1 tight end, has been bothered by a hamstring ailment for a week.
Snee, the right guard who has played in consecutive Pro Bowls, has been bothered by swelling in his leg.
Bulluck and Phillips had major knee surgery in the past year, and they are being held out as a precaution. Johnson has had back spasms, while Brown has groin and hamstring injuries.
Starting cornerbacks Corey Webster (groin) and Terrell Thomas (leg) are questionable, as is tight end Scott Chandler (hip flexor).
Coughlin planned to play his starters 15 to 18 plays Monday night. Jets coach Rex Ryansaid Saturday he wants his starters to play into the second quarter.
The Giants have been limited on offense this week because four tight ends were sidelined. Besides Boss and Chandler, Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard have been out with hamstring injuries.
"We're a multiple tight end team, and there have been a lot of formations where we have been very limited," Coughlin said. "We've made some adjustments."
In the past two days, defensive linemen Tommie Hill and Dave Tollefson, offensive lineman Herb Taylor, rookie linebacker Adrian Tracy and safeties Michael Greco and John Busing have lined up at tight end to help the offense run plays.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
