The Giants already told us that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is going to miss Sunday’s game against the Browns and now they’ve given word that he’s going to have plenty of company on the sideline.
Friday’s injury report lists four other Giants as out for Week Five. Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, safety Kenny Phillips, cornerback Jayron Hosley and wide receiver Ramses Barden will all miss the game. Linebacker Keith Rivers and tackle David Diehl, both of whom missed last week’s loss to the Eagles, are listed as doubtful.
Bernard has a quadriceps injury and his absence leaves the team with Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn in the middle of the line. We could also see more of Jason Pierre-Paul inside, a look they usually feature on passing downs.
Phillips’ absence was expected after he sprained his MCL against the Eagles and Hosley’s is no surprise after he missed that game with a hamstring injury. That means it is another shorthanded day for a Giants secondary that’s all to used to such a state of affairs. Barden will miss the game with a concussion suffered late in last week’s loss. Domenik Hixon and rookie Rueben Randle will join Victor Cruz as Eli Manning’s targets at receiver.
The Giants have long subscribed to the “Next Man Up” theory espoused by coach Tom Coughlin. If they keep going at this rate, they’re going to run out of next men to move up, though.