EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs might get those extra carries he’s been asking for.

Starting back Ahmad Bradshaw has a broken bone in his foot, and his status for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots is uncertain. That means the disgruntled Jacobs could carry more of the load.

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Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw might not be able to play Sunday against the Patriots because of a broken bone in his right foot. The Associated Press

Giants Coach Tom Coughlin disclosed Thursday that Bradshaw has a stress fracture.

“In the past he has played with the crack or whatever you want to call it, a stress crack in his foot,” Coughlin said of Bradshaw, who missed his second straight day of practice. “He has played that way in the past. I don’t know what the determination is just yet. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Bradshaw, who has rushed for a team-high 440 yards and five touchdowns, was not in the locker room for comment. He played much of the 2009 season with the stress fractures and he has surgery on both feet and ankles in the past two years.

When he was hurt last week, the Giants said Bradshaw missed time in the second half because a screw from a previous surgery was causing pain in his foot. He was seen on the bench without his right shoe on.

“He is doing good,” said Jacobs, whose locker is right next to Bradshaw. “We still really don’t know exactly what is wrong with him. I didn’t go into depth, I just feel bad for him. I wish he would heal up and get back our here.”

Bradshaw is expected to consult with Dr. Robert Anderson, a North Carolina orthopedist who examined the running back in 2009.

Jacobs has been lobbying for more carries after missing two games because of an injury.

“Yeah, yeah, it looks like I will get my opportunity to play more,” Jacobs said. “First off, I want to be able to go out and help the team as much as I can, go out and perform to the best of my ability and when the opportunity is given to me to take advantage of it.”

CARDINALS: Quarterback Kevin Kolb said his injured right toe feels “a lot better” and neither he nor Coach Ken Whisenhunt would rule him out of Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams.

Still, Kolb did not practice for the second day in a row, leaving a strong possibility that backup John Skelton will get the start.

“He’s still got a little ways to go but we’ll see,” Whisenhunt said of Kolb. “It comes down to whether he can push off and run on it, and that’s going to be a function of the next couple of days.”

The turf toe injury occurred early in last Sunday’s 30-27 loss at Baltimore, but Kolb stayed in the game. The quarterback was in a walking boot until Wednesday.

BRONCOS: Running back Willis McGahee says his broken right hand shouldn’t hinder him Sunday at Oakland.

McGahee practiced Thursday for the second straight day and was able to carry the ball in either hand.

“He’s looked great,” offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said. “It’s great to have him back out there.”

McGahee missed last week’s game against Detroit after undergoing an operation to insert screws and a plate into his right hand, which he broke on a defender’s face mask at Miami a week earlier.

BILLS: Offensive lineman Chris Hairston is set to return and play at least a backup role at left tackle in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Hairston missed one game with a right ankle injury, and coach Chan Gailey said he expects Hairston to split time with Andy Levitre at left tackle in place of injured starter Demetrius Bell, who will miss his fourth game because of a shoulder injury.

BROWNS: Starting running back Peyton Hillis made it through his first practice in a week without any trouble and intends to play Sunday at Houston.

Hillis has missed Cleveland’s last two games because of a strained left hamstring he injured against Oakland on Oct. 16.

STEELERS: Linebacker LaMarr Woodley remained limited in practice because of a strained hamstring, and his status for Sunday’s showdown with Baltimore is questionable.

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