EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning returned to practice yesterday and showed no ill effects of the injured right heel that kept him out the previous two days.

Yet the team is still being cautious about his status for tomorrow's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Manning is listed as questionable and coach Tom Coughlin said it will more than likely be a game-time decision whether he will play.

"If the medical people think he can play, then he will play," Coughlin said. "We'll evaluate him every day. I know he wants to play in the worst way, but we're not going to go against the medical people. We're not going to pencil him in and say he's playing."

Coughlin said that he was "encouraged" by the way Manning looked at practice.

Reserve David Carr took the first five snaps with the starting unit, but was quickly replaced by Manning, giving all indications Manning would be ready to start tomorrow. Manning has made 82 consecutive starts.

Manning has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in his right heel.

He was not available to the media after practice. Team officials said he was receiving medical treatment.

Carr said he watched closely and believes that Manning will be ready tomorrow.

"I think he looked fine," Carr said. "He looked good. We'll see how it goes on Sunday. I have to be ready in case he doesn't feel great. It was good to see him out there. He wasn't favoring it and that was a good sign. I watched his dropback to see if he could push off it. I wanted to see if he could do it and he looked fine. I don't want to not be prepared in case I have to go, but I think Eli will go."

BROWNS

VEIKUNE READY TO STEP IN ON DEFENSE

There's a possibility Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson could sit out tomorrow's game at the Buffalo Bills with a hamstring injury.

"With D'Qwell, we're hoping (he) can go," defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said yesterday. "He's doing everything he can to be out there. I'm sure that will come down to game time to whether he can play.

"If he can't, we've been working a lot of guys. There could be a couple rookies in there — Kaluka (Maiava), David (Veikune) — those guys have worked hard. If they get in there, they're going to have to do a great job and rise up and help us get a win."

Veikune, a Campbell High and University of Hawai'i alum, would be the leading candidate to take over if Jackson is unavailable. Veikune, a second-round pick out, does not have a tackle in four games and has played mainly on special teams.

"I had to (wait my turn) in college and didn't start until my senior year," Veikune said. "(Sometimes) you have to wait for your opportunity. When it comes up, that's when you have to take advantage of it."

A week ago, Ryan said Veikune wasn't ready.

"I think the young man has lots of talent," Ryan said last week. "(But) comparing him to our other guys, he's very young. I mean, he's three weeks into his career. To put him out there right now, it wouldn't be fair to him or anybody else."

It's the same situation for fourth-round pick Maiava, a Baldwin High and Southern Cal alum, who has not had a tackle while primarily playing on special teams.

"It's exciting (how) these kids are coming on," Ryan said recently. "You can see them growing. It's like all of a sudden now they have beards. It's like, . . . gosh, they're men now."

BRONCOS

MORENO MIGHT START

Denver running back Correll Buckhalter missed a third consecutive practice yesterday because of an ankle injury and it appears rookie Knowshon Moreno will start in his place tomorrow when the Broncos host the New England Patriots.

Buckhalter, who sprained his left ankle last Sunday, leads the NFL with 7.2 yards per carry and leads the team with 267 yards rushing. But Moreno has shaken off a knee sprain that sidelined him for the final three weeks of the preseason.

While Buckhalter was listed as out on the team's injury report, Coach Josh McDaniels declined to discuss his status or who would start in his place. He did say Moreno, the team's top draft pick, was prepared for whatever role he may play.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Starting left tackle Demetrius Bell is expected to return from a groin injury tomorrow when Buffalo hosts the Cleveland Browns.

Bell participated fully in practice yesterday after being forced to miss last Sunday's loss in Miami. Reserve defensive lineman John McCargo (calf) should also return after missing the Miami game.

Lions: Detroit coach Jim Schwartz still isn't talking about who will start at quarterback tomorrow, declining to say if Matthew Stafford is healthy enough to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Stafford injured his right knee in last Sunday's loss at Chicago. Schwartz won't say if he expects Stafford or Daunte Culpepper to start.

Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck has gone from excruciating pain to probable in four days.

Seahawks coach Jim Mora said after Hasselbeck completed his third consecutive practice yesterday that he expects his three-time Pro Bowler to start tomorrow against Jacksonville. It will be his first game since he broke a rib on a dive for the goal line Sept. 20 at San Francisco.