GIANT NOTES

One man’s breakdown is another man’s breakthrough.

With Giant middle linebacker Micheal Barrow downgraded to doubtful with a concussion, rookie fifth-round pick Nick Greisen stands to not only see his first full NFL action Sunday, but to start in Washington.

The 6-foot-1, 245-pounder had played only on special teams and missed eight straight games with a stress fracture in his foot. But after coming back last Sunday against Tennessee, Greisen could find himself in the lineup against the Redskins.

“Nick Greisen, I really like the guy. I think he’s an excellent player,” coach Jim Fassel said. “The problem is he hasn’t played linebacker in I don’t know how long … and very possibly he’ll be our starting middle linebacker.”

If he is, he’ll be used to being thrown into the fire. He can remember getting his first action for Wisconsin in front of 108,000 people at Michigan when starter Donnell Thompson got hurt.

“I get in there, my knees are shaking, and I went the wrong way because they ran a counter on the first play,” Greisen said. “On the second play I let my man go in man coverage. Then everything got blocked out and I ended up making 12 tackles.”

The Giants can only hope he does half as well against Stephen Davis & Co.

But he was bred for this day: His brother Chris just got cut by the Arizona Cardinals, his cousin Casey Rabach was an All-American at Wisconsin, and his late grandfather Stan Kramer played for the Packers.

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Fassel praised WR Rod Dixon, who caught a TD in his first start and is out of the doghouse for now.

“For a guy who’s never been consistent enough for me, he took accountability and made plays and he didn’t make a lot of mistakes,” Fassel said. “The other thing is he did it consistently. I’m pleased with him. So he can come out and have dinner before he has to go back to the doghouse.”

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DL Frank Ferrara was sat down at practice after scuffling with G Tam Hopkins.