EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The three Giants starting players injured in the season-finale last weekend against the New England Patriots did not practice yesterday as New York worked out for its NFC wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coach Tom Coughlin said that center Shaun O’Hara, linebacker Kawika Mitchell, and cornerback Sam Madison are making progress, but he would not guess whether they will play on Sunday.

O’Hara and Mitchell sprained knees. Madison aggravated an abdominal strain.

Mitchell and O’Hara have been fitted with knee braces.

“The medical people are not going to make a decision which puts the player in jeopardy,” Coughlin said. “So if the player is capable of doing the things that he has to do by his position in order to perform well, he passes the test with the medical people, and then they will make it on that. If he is not ready, then obviously they won’t allow him to play.”

Grey Ruegamer would play center if O’Hara can’t play.

“Part of my job is to make it as seamless as possible, so you don’t notice the difference,” Ruegamer said.

Receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle) and cornerback Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) practiced on a limited basis. Rookie halfback Ahmad Bradshaw, who missed the Patriots games with a calf injury, returned to practice as did receiver Sinorice Moss, who was out the last two weeks with a back injury.