PRO FOOTBALL : AROUND THE NFL : Hostetler Hurt His Back in First Half

Quarterback Jeff Hostetler of the New York Giants says he first injured his back during a sack by linebacker Broderick Thomas of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late in the first half Sunday and not on the third-quarter hit by Thomas that left him motionless on the field.

Hostetler, who returned to his Bergen County, N.J., home on a chartered flight Wednesday after three nights in a Tampa, Fla., hospital, told his brother Doug that he had severe pain at halftime after Thomas sacked him with about two minutes left in the second quarter.

“He thinks he actually hurt his back then,” Doug Hostetler said Wednesday. “He said it was all he could do to come out and start the third quarter.”

Hostetler completed two of three passes in the second half before getting hurt again. He threw a deep pass to Mark Ingram for a 38-yard gain and was in the process of completing a 10-yarder to David Meggett when he was slammed on his back again by Thomas with 9:36 left in the third quarter.

At the very least, Lawrence Taylor plans to be in uniform in Cincinnati Sunday--sprained left knee and all--in case the Giants need him in an emergency situation.

“If there comes a situation where something comes up or somebody goes down or something like that, I expect to be available for action,” Taylor said. “To what extent I’m used is pretty much up to Ray (Handley).”

Taylor has missed only one game in 11 years because of injury.