BEREA: Browns tight end Kellen Winslow missed his second consecutive day of practice with an undisclosed illness and coach Romeo Crennel seemed to imply his status for Monday night's game against the New York Giants might be in doubt.

''We held him out yesterday. Today we're going to send him to see the doctor and see if we can get him cleared up for the game,'' Crennel said.

Asked to elaborate on the nature of the illness, Crennel said, ''Not until after the doctors take a look at him and see if they know what it is.''

The Browns declined to update Winslow's condition Thursday afternoon.

Winslow was rested during last week's bye, presumably because his right knee has undergone four surgeries, most recently a clean-out after playing in his first Pro Bowl in February. The team's leading receiver with 19 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown, Winslow participated Monday in what was little more than a walk-through. Last year, he totaled 82 catches for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns.

The Browns (1-3) hope to get their season of great expectations untracked at home against the defending Super Bowl champion Giants (4-0). They have two practices remaining this week.

Asked if Winslow could play with little work, Crennel said, ''He's a valuable piece to this puzzle we have. If he's able to, we'll let him do something, try to catch him up and let him play. I know that he'll want to play. So he'll do everything he can to be able to.''

Hixon impresses

Giants receiver Domenik Hixon scored the first touchdown of his three-year career Sunday in a 44-6 route of the Seattle Seahawks. With Plaxico Burress suspended for the game, Hixon, a University of Akron product, caught four passes for 102 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown, before leaving in the second quarter with a mild concussion.

A fourth-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2006 who was cut in October, 2007 and claimed off waivers by the Giants, Hixon came into the game with 94 career receiving yards.

''He's been outstanding,'' Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. ''He absorbs coaching like a sponge. He started last spring to really make a move as a receiver, got a lot of work in training camp, has really communicated well with the quarterback and the quarterback has a lot of faith in Domenik. In addition to being an outstanding return man and special teams performer, he's doing a really nice job as a receiver.''

The Giants had a rash of injuries during training camp that left Hixon as a starter. That time helped quarterback Eli Manning gain faith in him.

''This year he comes to training camp and is working with the first team every day,'' Manning said. ''He always had talent, but I think he gained a lot of confidence in himself. I became very comfortable with him and he started making plays for us. He had a great game last week. He kind of worked himself up and deserves some playing time.''

Hixon burned the Browns for three touchdowns in an Aug. 18 preseason game that including an 82-yard kickoff return. He did a masterful job getting his toes in bounds in the back of the end zone on the second touchdown as strong safety Sean Jones slipped.

''My first preseason game I ran a fade and only got one foot inbounds,'' Hixon said by phone Thursday. ''I talked to (teammate Amani) Toomer, he's the best in the league when it comes to that. It's a blessing to have him and Plaxico, older guys who are willing to talk to you. I hear that other teams' older guys don't want to tell younger guys what to do because they're competing for jobs.''

Hixon expects about 20 friends and family members at the game, including his parents and maybe eight others from his native Columbus, and 10 more from Cleveland and Akron.

''Barry Cofield has 72 coming,'' he said of the Giants' defensive tackle from Cleveland Heights.

Hixon said his father, Marvin, has his Super Bowl ring. He hopes the elder Hixon, a retired military man who now works as a canine police officer in Gahanna, is wearing it.

''I would assume so. I haven't asked him,'' Hixon said.

But Hixon doesn't go around boasting of the Giants' 2007 success.

''It's cool to talk about, but it's a different year, different ballgame,'' he said.

Brownies

Safety Mike Adams (foot) was added to the injury report and was limited in practice. There were no other changes for either team. Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth (quad) was listed as a full participant, but missed individual drills open to the media while being stretched by a trainer. . . . The Browns and National City will accept donations for breast cancer at the gates Monday.