Rhett Bomar , doing well with the New York Giants

BALTIMORE -- It is going to be a race against time for Jim Sorgi, who will not be ready to return this week from the torn right shoulder capsule he suffered in the preseason opener against the Jets.

Sorgi probably needs at least three weeks to heal, but he is pushing himself to get back on the field next week to get some snaps in Thursday night's preseason finale with the Patriots.

It is more likely that Sorgi will not be ready before the start of the regular season, leaving the Giants with a dilemma. Do they entrust Sorgi with the backup quarterback job and assume he will be healthy? Do they have enough faith in Rhett Bomar to keep him around as Eli Manning's backup? Or do they feel the need to go outside the organization to bring in another quarterback as insurance?

Bomar can go a long way in answering some of those questions with his performance tonight against the Ravens. Manning, who missed last week's game while the three-inch gash on his forehead healed, returns to the starting lineup tonight and is expected to play into the third quarter.

Bomar should get whatever playing time is left to improve on his full-game outing against the Steelers, when he went 13 of 26 for 167 yards and one interception in his starting debut.

"Oh, he's improved, he's done a nice job," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He's still got a ways to go, but he's in the driver's seat as far as the guy who is taking all the snaps. He's put himself in a good position, and this will be another nice test for him."

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Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was fined $10,000 for exchanging punches with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor in last week's preseason game. Taylor was hit with the same fine. Both were ejected early in the first quarter after the scuffle.

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This will be a big night for safety Kenny Phillips , who will at least double his workload from six plays in the Steelers game. Look for Phillips to get around 20 plays as he continues his return from microfracture left knee surgery.

First cuts must be made by Tuesday, with rosters trimmed from 80 to 75. . . . This is the only preseason game the Giants will play away from New Meadowlands Stadium. Their opener was a Jets home game.

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Not expected to play for the Giants: Sorgi (shoulder), WRs Ramses Barden (back) and Sinorice Moss (groin), C Shaun O'Hara (ankle/Achilles), G Kevin Boothe (PUP, pectoral), RB D.J. Ware (concussion), TE Travis Beckum (neck), S Michael Johnson (back), CB Aaron Ross (foot), CB Terrell Thomas (calf), DT Chris Canty (groin) and LB Chase Blackburn (knee). Rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul (groin) is questionable.

from the New York Post