Giving second-round draft pick Chris Snee a starting job on the New York Giants’ offensive line has been a move expected from new coach Tom Coughlin.

Having starters Tiki Barber and Amani Toomer as potential punt returners for the preseason opener against Kansas City was a switch almost no one anticipated.

Coughlin made both moves Monday, shifting David Diehl to right tackle and giving Snee, his son-in-law, the open spot at right guard. The change put Ian Allen, who started 11 games at right tackle last season, in a backup role and makes Snee a starter before Eli Manning, the first pick in last April’s draft, who is trying to beat out veteran Kurt Warner at quarterback.

The move that seemed to catch the players off guard was the decision to waive return man Delvin Joyce. It left Barber and Toomer as the leading candidates to return punts on Friday against the Chiefs.

Barber and Toomer were stunned.

“I was surprised they let Delvin go, but whatever it takes for this team to win, I’ll do,” said Barber, who was the Giants’ punt returner from 1999-2001, returning one for a touchdown.

Dolphins

Miami linebacker Zach Thomas practiced for the first time since training camp opened. Thomas, who led the Dolphins in tackles seven of the past eight seasons, had surgery a month ago to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Injured receiver David Boston had successful surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left knee, but he’ll miss the entire season.

Titans

A second opinion confirmed that linebacker Peter Sirmon will need season-ending surgery to repair his injured left knee. Sirmon, the starter for the Titans at left outside linebacker the past two seasons, hurt his knee during a non-contact drill a week ago.

Jets

Safeties Jon McGraw and Reggie Tongue, linebacker Eric Barton and wide receiver Santana Moss all sat out of practice Monday because of injuries.

Tongue, a free-agent acquisition slated to start, hurt his left calf on the second day of training camp. The former Chief doesn’t know whether he will be able to play in the preseason opener Friday against New Orleans.

Safety Jarell Weaver missed the afternoon practice with a groin injury.

Cowboys

Keyshawn Johnson was late returning to the Cowboys camp in Oxnard, Calif., after some time off.

Coach Bill Parcells said Monday that only one player was late in returning, but wouldn’t say who it was. Johnson confessed to reporters, just like he had to the coaches.

Johnson said he expected to be fined about $7,500. He said he didn’t even try to sneak back into camp Sunday afternoon.

Panthers

The Carolina Panthers’ unsettled offensive line took another hit Monday when projected starting right tackle Adam Meadows abruptly retired.

The 30-year-old signed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Panthers as a free agent March 9, but was kept out of most of training camp by persistent shoulder problems.

Eagles

Defensive end Jevon Kearse sprained his left ankle, but did not consider the injury to be serious.

He was carted off the field after he hurt the same ankle he injured in Tennessee last season. X-rays were negative, and Kearse — listed as day to day — jogged to his car after speaking to reporters.

Backup quarterback Koy Detmer is expected to miss about two weeks because of a right knee injury.

Jaguars

Wide receiver Jimmy Smith missed practice Monday because of a minor back injury that coach Jack Del Rio said was a strain or an ache. Smith caught 54 passes for 805 yards and four touchdowns last season despite serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Buccaneers

Tampa Bay has had conversations with former Oakland receiver Tim Brown and the agent for holdout receiver Keenan McCardell, but neither has signed. General manager Bruce Allen said Monday that he planned to talk to Brown again soon. Brown was released last week by Oakland.

Raiders

Linebacker Napoleon Harris will be sidelined for three-to-six weeks after tearing cartilage in his right knee during a training camp drill. Harris, who started 29 games in his first two NFL seasons, was hurt during a scrimmage Monday.

Harris collided with teammates while blitzing during a pass play. He fell to the ground and clutched his knee before Oakland’s medical staff came over and helped him off the field.