New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning practiced with a helmet on for the first time since suffering a 3-inch gash on his forehead during an Aug. 16 game against the Jets. Manning had been practicing this week with a baseball cap on after having 12 stitches removed from his forehead last Friday. He said he wore a different helmet for Wednesday's practice than the one he previously wore, but not for extra padding inside. "It is a different helmet but [there's] nothing special about it," Manning said after practice. "No new padding or anything. Just a little different helmet, and something with the chin strap just buttoned a little bit different than the way I used to just to ensure that it is on tight." On the play in which Manning was injured, his chin strap loosened after a collision with teammate Brandon Jacobs on a busted play. The quarterback was then drilled from behind by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace, who sent Manning's helmet flying off. Manning then hit his forehead on Jets safety Jim Leonhard's facemask on the way down to the turf. Manning said he will try this helmet for a few weeks and then make a decision whether to keep it. He said he had played with a similar helmet before, but not for a few years. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5497091
