New York Giants' news, 8/17: Larry Donnell update, other headlines

New York Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin offered little information Friday afternoon about the injury suffered during practice by tight end Larry Donnell other than "it was a knee" and "He’s going through all the tests."

Donnell, on the practice squad in 2012, has been impressive thus far in training camp.

Who's In, Who's Out?

Coughlin said that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will play Sunday vs. the Indianapolis Colts, but that cornerback Terrell Thomas will be held out for one more week.

Three quarterbacks will play Sunday -- Eli Manning, David Carr and Ryan Nassib. In the third preseason game, Carr will sit and Curtis Painter will play.

Coughlin said Giants' starters will play around 20 plays.

JPP Making Progress

Jason Pierre-Paul reportedly did not work on Friday, but Coughlin said he had "an outstanding day" of rehab on Thursday.

"He's a little sore today, so they slowed him down again. But yesterday was an outstanding day. He ran well and he worked in the weight room," Coughlin said. "He's not ready to come out two days in a row and do what he did yesterday, but I'm encouraged by what he did."

Pierre-Paul is recuperating from back surgery. Whether or not he will be available for the season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys has yet to be determined.

Rueben Randle's 'Recognition' Is Better

Much has been throughout training camp of the progress of second-year wide receiver Rueben Randle. The former LSU standout knows one of the reasons for his improvement:

"I think I became faster in recognizing the coverages, the safety rotations. That took time, just multiple reps, seeing everything so they couldn't try to disguise it and throw you off balance. I think my recognition of certain coverages has picked up from what it was last year," Randle said.

For Stevie Brown, Year Makes Big Difference

A season ago, Stevie Brown was a relative unknown. He was just trying to make the 53-man roster after barely playing with either the Oakland Raiders or Indianapolis Colts. This year, afterstarting 11 games and intercepting 8 passes in 2012, he is being counted on.

So, how different is training camp this time around?

"I didn’t have to do interviews with this many cameras (in 2012). I just got to eat lunch and go back, but it’s definitely a little bit different," Brown said. "Coaches talk to you in a different way. Players talk to you in a different way. It’s not about keeping it going, keeping your head focused and see if you can try to make this team. Now it’s like we’re going to need things from you this year and expect things from you.