A few days after being named the NFC’s offensive player of the week, New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks will not even be in North Carolina, his home state, for tonight’s game against the Carolina Panthers. And the former UNC star is not happy about it, either.
The day before it was determined he would not play, Nicks said: ”It’s really big for me. I’m really looking forward to it. I have a lot of family and friends that are going to be there.”
They will not get to see him play. Nicks had 10 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ come-from-behind victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. But he also injured a foot that just did not heal in time with the short week.
Nicks joins unning back Ahamad Bradshaw, offensive tackle David Diehl and receiver Dominik Hixon, who are also out with injuries. Nicks did not practice this week after aggravating a foot injury late in the 41-34 win over the Buccaneers.
There didn’t seem to be much concern over his lack of practice because he hasn’t practiced much since sitting out almost all of training camp while recovering from a broken foot suffered in May. The Giants even listed him as questionable for the game in their initial injury report Wednesday. However, Nicks did not participate in the final walkthrough, and he did not accompany the team to North Carolina, his home state.
With Nicks and Hixon out, the Giants will look to veteran Ramses Barden , second-year pro Jerrel Jernigan and rookie Rueben Randle to fill in.
Bradshaw (neck), Diehl (knee) and Hixon (concussion) were hurt in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay and did not practice this week. Andre Brown, who rushed for a career-best 71 yards Sunday, probably will start for Bradshaw, while Will Beatty and Sean Locklear will be the offensive tackles.
Diehl, who sprained his right medial collateral ligament, has only missed four games in his first nine seasons.
Rookie defensive end Adewale Ojomo, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury for weeks, also is listed as out.