I’m knee deep in leaves on a day off, so Brian Heyman is handling practice.

Here’s what he walked into today:

Antonio Pierce didn’t participate today in the Giants’ practice session for the third straight day due to his strained quad.

Coach Tom Coughlin said his middle linebacker would be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the visiting 49ers, and that it would be a “decision at game time.” But it sounded more like Pierce is doubtful.

A couple of his teammates spoke about having to play the game without him. And Pierce, who had to take himself out of Monday night’s 35-14 loss at Cleveland for one series in the first quarter because of the injury, wouldn’t say whether he would play.

That’s in contrast to the end of last week when he had participated in a practice and said he was sure he would play.

“I don’t have the answer,” Pierce said.

Chase Blackburn would start if Pierce doesn’t. Coughlin said there had been “a little bit of an improvement” with Pierce.

Asked if Pierce set himself back by playing against the Browns, Coughlin said, “Well, it didn’t help, obviously. He was strained and he was trying to go and he was trying to do everything he could, but he was really incapacitated to a certain extent. He just didn’t feel like he could really drive.”

Coughlin said rookie Bryan Kehl would start for the injured Gerris Wilkinson at weak-side linebacker, and that rookie linebacker Jonathan Goff would dress for the game with Wilkinson out. Coughlin also indicated that there would be no announcement until Sunday on whether Lawrence Tynes or John Carney will serve as the kicker.

Receiver/special teamer David Tyree said he wouldn’t be back from his knee injury for this game after finally returning to practice on Wednesday, and that he’s shooting for a week from Sunday at Pittsburgh.