often in the Super Bowl.Remember that this was a relatively mild Sunday

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants battered and bruised offensive backfield might be getting a familiar face back in time to face the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.Rashad Jennings, the teams leading rusher with 863 yards last season, is making significant progress with the torn ligament in his left thumb that forced him to miss last weeks 29-27 loss to the Washington Redskins.Jennings participated in several drills during Fridays practice, enough to impress coach Ben McAdoo.Rashad had a very nice day, McAdoo said. Hes progressing nicely. He got some good work in. Its still too early to tell if he can play. Were looking at things on a day-to-day basis.Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan also saw a significant change in Jennings.Hes improved from last week, so all we can do is hope for the best, Sullivan said. We have to wait and see how it all plays out.McAdoo was asked when a decision would be made about Jennings status.Its not a game-time decision, McAdoo said. More than likely game day, probably.Jennings was not available to the media after Fridays practice. He was spotted during practice running hard with the ball and catching passes out of the backfield, which was the biggest concern after he injured the thumb in the victory over New Orleans two weeks ago. It was the most active the seven-year veteran has been since injuring the thumb.He got some good work in, McAdoo said.Its essential for the Giants to get Jennings back into the mix, considering they lost veteran Shane Vereen for the season with a torn triceps. Vereen was becoming more than just a third-down back and was the teams leading rusher after three weeks with 147 yards on 31 carries (4.7 yards per carry). Jennings has 102 yards on 31 carries (3.3 yards per carry).Luckily for the Giants they have Orleans Darkwa, a third-year pro out of Tulane signed by the Giants off the Dolphins practice squad in November 2014. Darkwa got his chance to see considerable action last Sunday, when he carried the ball 10 times for 53 yards and a touchdown.Incredibly, there were thoughts Darkwa would get cut by the team in preseason. Now, a month later, he stands to be the starter if Jennings cant go Monday night.Its crazy how things happen, said the 24-year-old Darkwa. I hear it every year that Im going to get cut or that Im on the bubble. That doesnt bother me. All I can do is try harder on the field and do what I can do.Darkwa is aware that as it stands, hes No. 1 on the depth chart.It would be an unbelievable dream come true to make my first start on the big stage on `Monday Night Football, Darkwa said. I cant get too excited. I just have to play my game and be ready. I feel like Im ready to be the main back. Its what I did in college, but I know this is a different level. Im confident enough to run the ball. I just have to make sure I can get the job done.Im wishing for Rashad to have a speedy recovery, but if Im needed, Im ready.Sullivan doesnt think rookie Paul Perkins, the fifth-round draft pick from UCLA, is ready to step in. However, the Giants think highly of Perkins -- so highly that they kept him and released Andre Williams in training camp.He was not here in the spring, Sullivan said of Perkins. He missed a lot, so its just a matter of him trying to catch up. Hes had a lot to digest. We feel very confident with whomever we call upon.The way things looked Friday, it could very well be a return for Jennings, who has gained 3,281 yards and scored 20 touchdowns over his seven-year career.Game notes Six other Giants did not practice: CB Eli Apple (hamstring), OT Marshall Newhouse (calf), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin), S Darian Thompson (foot), DT Robert Thomas (illness) and S Nat Berhe, who is still undergoing the leagues concussion protocol. Their status for Monday nights game will be reviewed Saturday. . DE Olivier Vernon is listed with a wrist injury, and Vernon said its something that has bothered him for a long time and is nothing more than a bee sting. ... DE Jason Pierre-Paul declared himself fit and ready to go Monday night. Its the `Monday Night Football game, so everyone is going to be watching, Pierre-Paul said. Im going to get the job done. Im focused and locked in.. The Giants plan to practice in New Jersey on Sunday, then fly to Minnesota.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Stephon Gilmore Patriots Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Drew Bledsoe Patriots Jersey . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Jarrett-Stidham-Inverted-Jersey/ . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Stephon Gilmore Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Sony Michel Jersey .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. PITTSBURGH -- A year ago, James Conner spent the days before Thanksgiving wondering what was wrong with him. The answer came in the form of a cancer diagnosis that sent the Pittsburgh running back through months of debilitating treatment that threatened his blossoming career.Its all behind him now. All of it. And that -- more than the records hes breaking at an alarming rate -- is what matters. Its why Conner didnt get wrapped up in his own hype after his pair of touchdowns in Pitts easy 56-14 romp over Duke on Saturday made him the leading career touchdown scorer in Atlantic Coast Conference history.When I take the field, I put cancer and everything behind me and just play, said Conner, who left briefly after tweaking his right ankle in the second quarter but returned for the second half. Im getting better every week.So are the Panthers (7-4, 4-3 ACC), who showed no signs of a letdown after stunning Clemson last week. Conner, as is his wont, led the way. He bulled over from 1 yard in the first quarter and again in the third to give him 50 rushing touchdowns for his career, breaking the previous mark set by N.C. States Ted Brown between 1975 and 1978. Conner now has 53 touchdowns in all, eclipsing the old ACC mark of 52 set by Wali Lundy of Virginia from 2002-05.Asked if any of them stand out over the others and Conner pointed to his 20-yard sprint in the fourth quarter against the Tigers, the one that put Pitt in position to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the programs recent history.Everything Ive been through and me working on getting in a rhythm, my endurance playing 60 minutes of football, Conner said, it showed I can play 60 minutes of football at a high level, late in the game, Conner said.For once such theatrics werent necessary for Pitt. Not with Conner running for 101 yards. Not with Quadree Henderson returning a punt 65 yards for a score and adding another on a 52-yard jet sweep. Not with Nate Peterman throwing for three scores in the wind at wintry Heinz Field as the Panthers set a new school record with 432 points on the season.It was a good, comfortable win, Conner said. Weve got to finish out the season strong.A DUD FOR THE BLUE DEVILSDaniel Jones completeed 28 of 46 for 248 yards and a touchdown but Duke (4-7, 1-6) did little downfield against the nations 127th-ranked pass defense.dddddddddddd. The Panthers sacked Jones five times, including two by senior defensive end Ejuan Price. After going over 200 yards on the ground in each of their last three games, the Blue Devils managed just 25 yards rushing against Pitt.They won the execution battle and thats why the score is so lopsided, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. We also lost the kicking game. It wasnt our intention coming in, but we just got whipped.RESPECTHendersons zig-zag punt return in the third quarter put the Panthers up 42-14 and marked his fourth kick return for a score this year, tops in the nation. The Blue Devils found one way to keep it from Henderson, having Jones do a quick kick on a fourth-down later in the third quarter.I was sitting off to the sideline, waiting for (the snap) and he just kicked, Henderson said with a laugh. Definitely a sign of respect. I appreciate it.THE TAKEAWAYDuke: The only chance the Blue Devils have of making a fifth straight bowl game will be with a win at Miami next week and hope there arent enough 6-6 teams to fill the bowl slots.Pitt: While the defense is hardly stout, the Panthers have become opportunistic of late. An early fumble recovery by linebacker Matt Galambos on Dukes first play set up a touchdown and helped the Panthers set the tone. Pitt later turned a fumbled Duke kickoff return into another score.UP NEXTDuke: travels to Miami in the regular season finale. The Hurricanes stunned the Blue Devils 30-27 last season, winning on the final play during a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that featured eight laterals. The ACC ended suspending officials for two games following a series of officiating errors during the return.Pitt: will try to continue its mastery of Syracuse. The Panthers have won 10 of their last 11 against the Orange, including all three meetings since the schools joined the ACC in 2013.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '