Injury Probably Ends Taylor’s Career : NFC: The Giants’ 10-time All-Pro linebacker ruptures Achilles’ tendon in 27-7 victory over the Packers.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J —  The Giants stumbled their way past the Green Bay Packers, 27-7, Sunday at Giants Stadium.

But the mood in the locker room was somber. Reporters asked little about the game. The Giants lost something more vital to them.

Linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who had announced his intention to retire after this season, tore his right Achilles’ tendon late in the third quarter and is out for the season.

“He’s been a class guy, a class player,” defensive end Leonard Marshall said. “And he deserves to go out on top. He has done everything he possibly could do for the Giants.”

With 1:14 left in the third quarter, Taylor--who was having one of his better games this season-- was struggling to get by Green Bay tackle Tootie Robbins. Taylor got a hand up and batted down a pass attempt by quarterback Brett Favre, but while his shoe was planted in the artificial turf, Taylor fell backward. His leg was stretched too far and the tendon was torn about 1 1/2 inches above the heel.

“I wouldn’t blame the artificial turf at this point,” said Dr. Russell Warren of the Giants, who will perform surgery in New York Tuesday--or today if it can be arranged. “At his age (33), the tendons tend to get brittle.”

Taylor twisted on the ground in obvious pain several minutes before the Giants’ carts reached him. He was lifted onto the cart and driven off as many of the 72,038 fans chanted, “LT. LT.”

Warren said Taylor can make a full recovery and play again, but not this season. He will not be able to run for 12 to 15 weeks.

“It’s a shame if he does retire at the end of the year and that turns out to be the play that ended it for him,” Coach Ray Handley said. “I would hope he makes the decision to come back and play next year--that’s my immediate reaction.”

Wellington Mara, the team’s president and co-owner, was quoted by Newsday as saying: “I haven’t accepted his retirement. It’s a lot easier to retire in November than it is to retire in July. I keep hoping that when the gong rings next year, the warhorse will hear it and decide to come back.”

A certain Hall of Famer, Taylor, considered by many the all-time greatest outside linebacker, announced Oct. 8 that this would be his final season. A 10-time All-Pro, he is the NFL’s career sack leader with 136 1/2 and has been the leader of the Giants defense since 1981, his rookie season.

“I’ve been here seven years,” cornerback Mark Collins said. “And I never count him out. You never know what Lawrence will do.”

Many Giants, perhaps in denial, said Taylor will play again this year--if they can extend the season enough. The Super Bowl is Jan. 31, 12 weeks from now.

“You know Lawrence,” linebacker Pepper Johnson said. “If he can trot, he’ll be out there somehow.”

Taylor had a sack, two batted passes and a forced fumble Sunday.

The Giants (5-4) are a longshot to extend their season to the Super Bowl, but enhanced their chances for a playoff berth with this victory, their third in a row.

Their offense struggled. The Giants, who led the league in average rushing yards a game coming in, gained 53 yards in 23 rushes against Green Bay’s 20th-ranked defense against the rush. Quarterback Jeff Hostetler completed only nine of 16 passes for 133 yards.

But the Giants recovered two fumbles and intercepted three of Favre’s final nine passes.

The biggest play was an interception by Reyna Thompson, the first of his seven-year career, returned 69 yards for a touchdown to give the Giants a 20-7 lead with 3:38 left.