You could forgive the Giants if they are starting to feel a little bit of déjà vu right now.
The feelings started on Wednesday when cornerback Brian Witherspoon was carted off the field during the first OTA practice with a torn ACL, the second straight season with that injury for Witherspoon (who was waived/injured on Thursday) and the second straight season where they started losing players on the practice field. They are getting stronger now that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot at Thursday’s practice.
The team announced Nicks’ injury and that he is scheduled to have surgery to have a screw inserted in the bone on Friday. He is expected to miss approximately 12 weeks.
That recovery time would have Nicks back on the field at the tail end of training camp and any setbacks could impact his readiness for the start of the season. It’s the latest in a series of lower leg injuries for Nicks, although he’s done a good job of staying on the field in his three years with the team. Nicks had 76 catches for 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games last season and led all receivers in the playoffs with 28 catches for 444 yards.
Second-round pick Rueben Randle should see most of the action at Nicks’ spot with Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan and Ramses Barden also seeing more reps as a result. It might not be a bad time for Victor Cruz, set to make $540,000 this season, to renew his push for a new contract.
