Brandon Mosley David Diehl, the Giants' starter at right guard since Week 5, did not practice this week with a knee injury and is listed as doubtful for Sunday against the Lions. That opens the door for second-year pro Brandon Mosley, who has played all 12 of his career games this season (no starts)."He's worked hard," Tom Coughlin said. "He's a hard working young kid. He's a nice and thick O-line type and hopefully he'll play well."

Prince Amukamara The cornerback will lead a group effort against premier wide receiver Calvin Johnson this Sunday in Detroit. At 6-0, 207 pounds, Amukamara is the biggest cornerback on the Giants' roster, which is still five inches shorter and 29 pounds lighter than Johnson. "I think our coaches have a great game plan going into this week and Calvin Johnson," Amukamara said this week. "He does flip side to side, so I do anticipate matching up with him."

Jerrel Jernigan After undergoing an arthroscopic debridement of his left knee this week, wide receiver Victor Cruz is out for the Giants. While Rueben Randle will likely start, Jernigan, who had the most productive game of his three-year career last week with seven catches for 67 yards, will replace Cruz in the slot. "He'll definitely be the guy," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said about Jernigan. "He's the one that most closely embodies the qualities you're looking for in the slot position, the quickness, the toughness, and you just hope the things that come up each and every game - it's a little different; he hasn't been through them as much as Victor - but that he'll react and respond to the different coverage disguises in there."

Antrel Rolle Rolle has little interest in personal accomplishments when his team is losing, but the Giants' defensive co-captain is in the hunt for the NFL interception title with two games to go. Already having notched a career-high six this year, Rolle is tied with Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and Detroit linebacker DeAndre Levy for the league lead. The Lions have the second-most turnovers this season with 31, trailing only the Giants with 39. "Same mindset each and every week, no matter if they turn the ball over one time over the entire season, or 31 times, it doesn't matter," Rolle said. "Our mentality as a defense is always to create turnovers to give our offense more opportunities to put the ball in the end zone."

Michael Cox With Peyton Hillis (concussion) ruled out and Brandon Jacobs already on injured reserve, that leaves just two running backs available on Sunday, in addition to fullback John Conner. Rookie Michael Cox will back up Andre Brown, who has 441 yards and three touchdowns since he returned from injured reserve six weeks ago. "We've had six guys start at that spot, so it's not something new," Gilbride said. "I'm as confident as you can be. We've been bringing [Cox] along, he's been working at it. He's certainly made progress until you put him out on game day and ask him to do extensive work, but we started him, I forget when it was, but it was probably about six weeks ago. He's had a chance to play some, in a prominent role, and he did a very good job when he had that chance. You obviously would like to have your starters. You deal with the hand you've been dealt, and I think he'll give you as much as he has."