New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to sit out against Carolina Panthers – NFL News
New York Giants have decided against including wide receiver Hakeem Nicks in the squad for Week 3 game against Carolina Panthers to be played on Thursday, September 20, 2012.
Nicks, who sustained a serious foot injury during the offseason, returned for the team to play the season opener against Dallas Cowboys and also participated in Week 2 game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, his foot injury was aggravated against Tampa Bay as a played stepped on Nicks’ injured foot.
The player did not take part in recent practice sessions and was initially listed as questionable for Week 3 game. However, he was unable to make progress and was eventually forced out.
This is a short week for Giants as they are playing Week 3 game on Thursday. If the game had been scheduled for Sunday, things could have been different for the player.
Giants started their season with a loss against Cowboys, but were able to win against Tampa Bay. Since these are still early days in the season for the defending Super Bowl champions, they do not want to take any risk that might result in the player’s longer
absence and hence they decided to sit Nicks out as a precautionary measure.
Nicks’ absence is certainly going to be felt by the Giants. He is one of the prime receivers of quarterback Eli Manning’s passes. Last season, he and two other receivers, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz, played a phenomenal role in Giants’ Super Bowl victory.
In the current season too, Nicks has been a dependable receiver for Giants. Against Cowboys, he gained 38 yards on four receptions while he managed to gain 199 yards on 10 receptions against Tampa Bay. Nicks also got a touchdown in Week 2 game.
For his brilliant performance against the Bucs, Nicks was also declared National Football Conference (NFC) Offensive Player of the Week.
Nicks, too, was unsure about his participation against Panthers. Earlier on Tuesday, he said:
"I just have to keep taking it day by day and [Wednesday] should feel a little bit better and then Thursday will be game time.”
In absence of Nicks, Cruz will be Giants’ prime receiver.
Panthers, just like Giants, are 1-1 after two games.
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