Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith may be lost to the New York Giants for the remainder of the season, according to report by Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Smith was thought to have suffered a hamstring injury Monday against Minnesota, but has also apparently suffered a knee injury.
"This does not look good for him at all," a source told Vacchiano.
That isn't good for the Giants, either, as they head into a key game Sunday against Philadelphia that may determine the NFC East champion, and a three-game season-ending stretch that will determine their playoff fate.
Smith missed four games with a partially torn pectoral muscle and returned on Monday. Smith had 48 catches for 529 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season Wide receiver Mario Manningham suffered a hip flexor Monday, and his status for Sunday's game against Philadelphia is still uncertain.
As they had been for several weeks prior to Monday's 21-3 victory over Minnesota, it looks like the Giants could be short-handed at wide receiver again. Hakeem Nicks, the team's leading receiver, could be joined in the starting lineup by Derek Hagan, who has caught 13 passes since rejoining the team four games ago. Recent acquisitions Michael Clayton and Devin Thomas could also be forced into action if Smith and Manningham can't play.