New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is experiencing swelling in his knee after a hard fought game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will not practice this week.
Nicks has been dealing with injuries all year after undergoing foot surgery in the offseason. He missed the first game of the season and then aggravated his knee in Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
Last week it appeared the knee as getting better, but according to coach Tom Coughlin, Nicks has swelling in the knee again.
"He did, so we are going to rest him today," Coughlin said, according to ESPNNewYork.com.
Nicks is one of the most important pieces to New York's passing attack. Along with Victor Cruz, Nicks gives Eli Manning two top-flight options too pass too and his ideal size and speed gives an advantage over most cornerbacks in the league.
This season he has caught 27 balls for 390 yards while playing in only five games. His best line came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 after catching 10 balls for 199 yards and a touchdown.
The Steelers did good job limiting the Giants receivers on Sunday, but Nicks looked much slower than usual, catching only one pass for 10 yards.
According to Paul Schwartz from the New York Post, Nicks is "unlikely to play Sunday in Cincinnati." The team has a bye week following the game, which Schwartz notes is a reason why the team could hold Nicks out.
The Giants have dealt with various injuries on both sides of the ball, including to safety Kenny Phillips, who will also not play on Sunday. Phillips suffered an injury to his MCL against Philadelphia, but has been progressing steadily.
"He had been doing some practicing," Coughlin said. "It is not a setback. I think what is going to happen is we are going to try to rest him this week and then through the bye and hopefully we get him back."
The Giants face a big game against the Bengals on Sunday before heading into their bye week. The team is 6-4 and in first place in the NFC East, but face a host of questions after losing in November yet again.
"I think we can work it out," Coughlin said. "I definitely do. I think it's got to happen relatively fast, to be honest with you. I think it can be solved. I think a lot of it is the individual."
It has been a recent trend for the team, including coach Coughlin, who has lost 10 of the past 11 No. 9 games his team has played.
The team is hoping to avoid another November slump.
"There's one thing I know about this team," said Justin Tuck to ESPNNewYork.com "When we're backed in a corner, we're probably the most ferocious team to come out of that corner. Right now, we're not backed in a corner and I'm hoping and praying it doesn't have to get to that point. I'm hoping and praying we see that sense of urgency now."
Without Nicks the Giants will be less explosive, but they have proven this season that they have depth at wide receiver. Domenik Hixon has been a solid slot option and although they haven't been heard from in recent weeks, both Reuben Randle and Ramses Barden have had big games when asked to step up.
Randle's best game came against Cleveland, catching six balls for 82 yards. Barden did his damage against Carolina the week before, making nine receptions for 138 yards and an average of 15.3 yards per catch.
The Giants are still one of the top teams in the league, but will have a tough task ahead f them with a road game against the Bengals on Sunday.
