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New York Giants punter Matt Dodge talks with kicker Lawrence...

New York Giants punter Matt Dodge talks with kicker Lawrence Tynes during practice at the Timex Performance Center. (Aug. 10, 2011) Credit: Newsday/Joe Epstein

When Lawrence Tynes was hit just above the right knee Saturday night, it looked as if the kicker would miss at least a couple of weeks, if not months. Monday, though, Tynes said he could return to kicking by Wednesday or Thursday.

"It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, so that's good," Tynes said of the thigh contusion. "It's just day-to-day right now."

In the meantime, the Giants had punters Matt Dodge and Steve Weatherford handle the kicking duties in practice Monday. Tom Coughlin said the team likely will look around at free-agent kickers, even if it's just tryouts to see who is out there.

Tynes said he considers himself lucky to have escaped serious injury. He said playing on natural grass and not artificial turf that night might have helped save him from hyperextending his knee.

"I felt like my foot was in the ground, but it moved," Tynes said. "It accepted the blow."

Coughlin likes spirit

Coughlin, who was disappointed by Saturday night's preseason game, noted that Monday's practice was "spirited."

"I hope we are getting there, that's all," he said. "What changed is that we looked at it on tape and it wasn't very good and now let's do something about it. I hope that's what it is."

Giant steps

Coughlin said there is no rush to get Osi Umenyiora on the field for the next game, which is Monday night against the Bears. "If he is ready to play, then he will play a few snaps," Coughlin said . . . WR Sam Giguere has a "serious groin" injury, Coughlin said, and likely will miss significant time. He was not at practice Monday . . . LB Clint Sintim (knee) and TE Travis Beckum (hamstring) returned to practice. DE Dave Tollefson (back) did not practice . . . LB Michael Boley made an acrobatic interception off Eli Manning in the end zone during a red-zone drill.

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