There were conflicting reports last week about how long Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks would be out before he had surgery to help repair the broken bone in his foot.
The Giants said he would be out approximately 12 weeks and coach Tom Coughlin said it would be a race to get Nicks back in time for the first game of the season. Adam Schefter of ESPN, on the other hand, reported that Nicks would be out four to six weeks and be ready for the start of training camp. Coach Tom Coughlin spoke to Nicks after the surgery and the wide receiver is pushing the more optimistic timeline.
“‘I’ll be back for training camp’ were his final words,” Coughlin said, via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com. “I said OK. I would accept a day or two after the start of camp, (that) would be fine. I really appreciated his optimism. He has a cast and is elevated. He told me he was pretty much pain-free.”
Youngmisuk spoke to wide receiver Domenik Hixon, who had a similar injury that kept him out for three months. That more cautious outlook was illustrated by cornerback Prince Amukamara, who also had a similar injury last season, running on grass for the first time this offseason during Tuesday’s practice.
Regardless of exactly when Nicks is back, Hixon and the other current Giants receivers figure to see an uptick in their workload for the next few weeks. Since the team isn’t showing much interest in players from outside, it is the guys already in house who will have to cover for Nicks.