New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey practiced on his injured ankle for the first time in more than a week on Jan. 4.

But linebacker Antonio Pierce remained in a cast and sounded doubtful he would return from his high ankle sprain.

"I'm definitely not 100 percent," Shockey said before taking part in individual drills with his left ankle heavily taped. "We'll just see how it goes this week. I'm going to do a little bit today and hopefully a little more tomorrow and keep building it up."

Shockey was hurt in the Giants' 35-20 loss at Washington on Dec. 24 and missed a 30-21 win at Oakland on Dec. 31 that clinched the NFC East for New York.

On Jan. 4 he laid to rest any rumors he was benched for the Raiders game to save him for this Sunday's playoff game against Carolina.

"There was no way I could have played last week," he said. "I could barely walk. It was a legitimate injury and that's why I didn't play."

Shockey was selected to the Pro Bowl this season and finished with 65 catches for 891 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns in 15 games.

Pierce suffered his injury in the first quarter against Philadelphia on Dec. 11. He was still wearing a cast Jan. 4, but said it is scheduled to be removed next week.

"When the cast comes off I can walk on it," he said. "How much pressure I can put on it and how much pain I can tolerate, you never know until you're actually out there banging against 300-pound guys."

Pierce, the Giants' second-leading tackler this season despite missing three games and most of a fourth, did not sound hopeful that test would come next week if the Giants beat Carolina and then travel to play either Chicago or Seattle.

"This is probably worse than most people think," he said. "It's the kind of injury you just have to be patient with and hopefully it won't affect your longevity. Hopefully we can win a couple of games and I'll be back."