Giants still shuffling backfield

From combined dispatches

New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said his injured right leg feels “really good” and that he should play Thursday against Denver, but backup Ahmad Bradshaw has a sprained left ankle that could sideline him.

Bradshaw is wearing a protective boot on his left foot after previously wearing one on his right foot because of a cracked bone. He didn’t practice for the second straight day Tuesday.

When asked whether Bradshaw would fly with the team for its Thanksgiving game against the Broncos, coach Tom Coughlin said, “We’ll see.”

The latest injury to Bradshaw, second on the team with 549 rushing yards, came as a surprise because he finished the Giants’ 34-31 overtime victory over Atlanta on Sunday.

COWBOYS: Tight end Jason Witten will be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game against Oakland because of a sprained foot.

Witten was hurt in the second quarter of Dallas’ 7-6 victory over Washington on Sunday. He continued playing but was held out of a light practice Monday and was limited Tuesday.

Coach Wade Phillips said doctors are concerned Witten could worsen the injury if he plays on it.

BILLS: Buffalo considers two-time Super Bowl-winner Mike Shanahan a legitimate candidate to be its next coach.

A person familiar with the Bills’ search said the team has contacted the former Denver coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills are not discussing the search.

Shanahan has been out of football since the Broncos fired him at the end of last season. He went 146-91 in 14 seasons in Denver, including the playoffs. But the Broncos struggled in his final three seasons, going 24-24.

BUCS: First-year coach Raheem Morris added defensive playcalling to his duties, demoting defensive coordinator Jim Bates after a 38-7 loss to New Orleans dropped the Bucs to 1-9.

“I feel like I have to do it,” said Morris, who at 33 is the league’s youngest coach. “I feel like it’s what I’m supposed to do as a head coach.”

The Bucs are 26th in the NFL in total defense, allowing just over 378 yards a game. They’re last in rushing defense and have allowed 294 points, the second-highest total in the league.

It’s the second major change Morris and general manager Mark Dominik have made with the coaching staff since late August. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was fired 10 days before the start of the season; he was replaced by quarterbacks coach Greg Olson.