ALBANY, N.Y. – Sinorice Moss knows the deal by now. Just last year, he was getting asked the same questions.

“And the year before,” the Giants’ wide receiver said with a laugh Wednesday. “And the year before. And the year before.”

Five years into his NFL career, the former second-round pick has yet to reach the potential the team believed he had – and the ceiling he still sees for himself. And once again it's a numbers game. Now that rookie undrafted free agent Victor Cruz has emerged with his three-touchdown performance on Monday night, Moss is seemingly back on the verge of having his Giants career cut short.

Last year, it was extended when the team kept seven wide receivers. But that was a special occasion for a corps that needed as many bodies as possible. This year, there might roster spots needed elsewhere (such as quarterback and safety). Plus, Moss’ base salary has more than doubled from last season to $1.176 million, which makes him a slightly more expensive option to keep.

“It’s pretty much the same thing and I just take the same approach to it,” Moss said. “I don’t look at it as numbers. I just go out there, perform and take care of the things I need to take care of.”

Moss was back on the field performing in practice Wednesday after sitting out for more than a week with a groin issue. He was asked if Cruz’s game against the Jets and his impressive practices beforehand spurred him to suit up again and he replied, “Not at all.”

Moss said he’s been supportive of Cruz and doesn’t think about whether the rookie might have already stolen his job.

“If I think about that, I won’t be able to do what I need to do on the field every day. So why think about numbers?” Moss said. “It’s not about numbers to me. It’s about me going out there every day and participating and making plays and showing this team what I’m capable of doing.”

Again, the same questions. And the same answers. A different result this time? That remains to be seen.

But at least the approach is consistent right now.

“I definitely do have the experience and I’ve been asked these questions many times throughout the years,” Moss said. “I take the same approach – a positive attitude and a smile. I know what I bring and I know what I’m capable of doing. That’s why I have the smile on my face all the time.”

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LB Chase Blackburn said he had a good indication he hadn't suffered a season-ending injury when he went down on Monday with what was eventually revealed to be a medial collateral ligament sprain.

“The doctors told me they didn’t think it was an ACL right away, so that’s good news,” Blackburn said. “It ended up being an MCL. In a couple of weeks, it’ll be good to go.”

Blackburn is holding out hope for the final preseason game, but said the regular-season opener is “definitely” in his sights. He said doctors have told him the ligament will tighten in about 10 days, which should lead to more stability in the joint.

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I'm not going to lie, the discussion with John Mara cut into my practice-watching time. But it was an important subject I didn't want to miss. So the following report is a lot shorter than you and I usually expect. Sorry about that.

Away we go:

THE INJURIES

We all know already QBs Eli Manning (head) and Jim Sorgi (shoulder/ribs) were out. That left QB Rhett Bomar to take all of the reps. Also, Blackburn obviously was out, too.

These players, in addition to Moss, were back in action: WRs Steve Smith (groin) and Tim Brown (hamstring/groin), TEs Kevin Boss (hamstring/ankle) and Travis Beckum (hamstring) and CB Corey Webster (glute muscle).

These guys were still out: RG Chris Snee (knee), S Michael Johnson (back), OL Kevin Boothe (pec/PUP) and WR Ramses Barden (back).

LB Keith Bulluck (knee) and S Kenny Phillips (knee), who did not play Monday, practiced.

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THE STARTERS

LB Jonathan Goff stopped RB Brandon Jacobs in the hole on the first play of team drills and then picked off Bomar as he tried to throw to WR Mario Manningham on a scramble. On the last play of practice, Goff picked off Bomar after DT Chris Canty tipped the pass at the line.

More on Goff: I mentioned in my brief game review I thought he took a bad angle on what would have been a touchdown run by Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Well, I'm here to fall on my sword and apologize to Goff because LB Bryan Kehl explained to me Goff is handcuffed by a rule that forces him to follow the fullback. On that play, the fullback started on an outside course and cut back toward the middle. "He was in the right place on that play," Kehl said. "If you watched that, you wouldn't see that, but the fullback came back inside and Goff has to honor that. … The offense does that for that purpose. They'll get guys going one way and then force them to come back." The Giants often run a play where FB Madison Hedgecock goes one way into the line while the running back takes the handoff to the other side. Anyway, my apologies to Goff. Good job by him, then.

Webster defended a pass in team drills and then knocked away another ball during 7-on-7s. Both times he appeared to have no issues with his glute muscle. (No comments, please. Thank you.)

In the battle of the injury returnees, Smith handled Webster to clear a path for WR Hakeem Nicks on a screen pass.

LB Michael Boley got up to bat down a quick slant for Manningham.

CB Terrell Thomas got defensive coordinator Perry Fewell yelping by deflecting a pass for Smith on an in cut well behind his zone.

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THE BACKUPS

LB Gerris Wilkinson got some snaps with the starters after an impressive game on Monday. He fought outside Boss to make a stop on Jacobs during team drills. "It was earned, by the way he played the other night," coach Tom Coughlin said of the reps with the first team. "He had some physical tackles, he did well on special teams, he did well in the open field, tackling a back out of the backfield. We want to be able to encourage the guys who do well." Before you wonder if Coughlin was discouraging Boley by giving some of his snaps to Wilkinson, know that's not the case. Coughlin complimented Boley on his play the other night as well.

S Kenny Phillips hustled to chase down Beckum on a quick out in the flat. No issues with his knee there or when he pulled up to stop himself from plowing a reporter after the sprinted through the sideline.

Beckum got on top of S Michael Greco on a flag route to catch a good ball from Bomar.

WR Derek Hagan tried really hard to make a great catch on a ball that was delivered high on a hook. Hagan went up and had that ball all way to the final tuck, when it slipped out. That wouldve been some catch.

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THE YOUNG GUYS

DE Tommie Hill had a sack on the flag to Beckum and beat his blocker on the next play to stop Brown in the backfield. He had a pressure the other night against the Jets and is really flashing in practice lately. Maybe he does have a legit shot at the practice squad. We'll see.



The bloom is off the rose. Cruz seemed to come too flat on a pattern that Bomar threw like a flag route. (I'm joking. Cruz actually looked good on one quick screen and got great separation from CB Bruce Johnson on a fade up the right sideline.)

CB Seth Williams leaped to knock away a ball up the seam for WR Hagan in 7-on-7s.

CB D.J. Johnson tied up WR Nyan Boateng with some incidental contact. It was enough to slow down Boateng on a deep ball up the left side that fell incomplete. Johnson then slowed down WR Duke Calhoun on the same route one play later. I was across the field on both of these plays, so if Johnson was grabbing with his near hand I hereby throw a late penalty flag.

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And finally, with all the injuries to Manning and Sorgi, I inquired about QB Riley Skinner, who was with the Giants in the spring. His agent, Mark Slough, said Skinner has decided to retire.

The Daily News is reporting former Holy Cross QB Dom Randolph, who was with the Giants before they traded him for Skinner following rookie minicamp, will work out for the team tomorrow.