The New York Giants wide receiving corps got a major boost Monday when leading receiver Hakeem Nicks passed his physical and was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Nicks began training camp on the PUP list while he recovered from a foot injury. Nicks fractured his right foot in late May while he was running routes during practice. He had surgery and was initially expected to be out for 12 weeks. While there was initially some concern that the injury could keep Nicks out of the regular season opener, he targeted a mid-August return the entire time.
Nicks was seen running routes on a side field Monday at UAlbany. Asked after practice when Nicks might begin practicing, head coach Tom Coughlin said "soon." He did not, however, say it would be pretty much as soon as reporters had walked from the practice facility to the media work room.
Tuesday will be the final day of training camp at UAlbany.
The 24-year-old wide receiver is entering his fourth NFL season. He was the Giants' second-leading receiver last season with 76 receptions for 1,192 yards.
“This is an indication that we’re right where we should be,” Nicks said. “We’re on schedule. There have been no setbacks. Thank the Lord for that. I’m just going to take it one step at a time and be out there catching passes from Eli (Manning) and eventually getting our timing back.”
Nicks is confident the foot will cause no problems going forward.
“It feels good,” he said. “I know it’s probably going to take me getting over it within my head, but that’s going to come with more reps on it and getting those routes down and getting the timing back.
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