By Ohm Youngmisuk
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants suffered more than a heartbreaking loss in Philadelphia as the team announced that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will be out for approximately the next three weeks with swelling in his lower right leg.
Nicks took a hit in the leg during the 27-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday night and is being treated for compartment syndrome, or swelling in the lower leg that compresses nerves and blood vessels.
According to the Giants, Nicks underwent a fasciotomy at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Monday afternoon. Compartment syndrome can lead to muscle and nerve damage if not treated immediately.
With Nicks expected to miss the next three weeks, the Giants are now down to three wide receivers in Mario Manningham, rookie Duke Calhoun and the recently-signed Derek Hagan.
Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith is expected to miss another week with a partially torn pectoral muscle.
This is the third wide receiver the Giants have lost to an injury this month. Smith has been out for the past two weeks and Ramses Barden was placed on injured reserve last week with ligament damage and a fracture in his ankle.
Now the Giants have lost their best wide receiver for almost a month. The Giants will have to sign another receiver but it will be very difficult to replace Nicks, who is tied for third in the NFL with 62 receptions. He has 800 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Manningham has 38 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns this season.
"When you got your top two receivers out, that is always a big blow," Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. "But we learn how to fight through it. Other guys got to step up and we got to run the ball and get guys open. I got to play great football."
Manning added: "Having Derek here last week will help. He will have another week. Mario will have a big week and I got to get these tight ends into the mix. We will have to be kind of creative with some formations and personnel and get some of these young guys, whether it is Calhoun, and let's go play."
Manning can ask his big brother Peyton what it is like to lose so many offensive weapons. Peyton Manning and the Colts have lost several offensive players this season to injuries.
"Moaning doesn't help," Manning said. "You start complaining about it ... it doesn't fix anything. It just makes it worse."
The Giants (6-4) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) on Sunday.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants suffered more than a heartbreaking loss in Philadelphia as the team announced that wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will be out for approximately the next three weeks with swelling in his lower right leg.
Nicks took a hit in the leg during the 27-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday night and is being treated for compartment syndrome, or swelling in the lower leg that compresses nerves and blood vessels.
According to the Giants, Nicks underwent a fasciotomy at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Monday afternoon. Compartment syndrome can lead to muscle and nerve damage if not treated immediately.
With Nicks expected to miss the next three weeks, the Giants are now down to three wide receivers in Mario Manningham, rookie Duke Calhoun and the recently-signed Derek Hagan.
Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith is expected to miss another week with a partially torn pectoral muscle.
This is the third wide receiver the Giants have lost to an injury this month. Smith has been out for the past two weeks and Ramses Barden was placed on injured reserve last week with ligament damage and a fracture in his ankle.
Now the Giants have lost their best wide receiver for almost a month. The Giants will have to sign another receiver but it will be very difficult to replace Nicks, who is tied for third in the NFL with 62 receptions. He has 800 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Manningham has 38 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns this season.
"When you got your top two receivers out, that is always a big blow," Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. "But we learn how to fight through it. Other guys got to step up and we got to run the ball and get guys open. I got to play great football."
Manning added: "Having Derek here last week will help. He will have another week. Mario will have a big week and I got to get these tight ends into the mix. We will have to be kind of creative with some formations and personnel and get some of these young guys, whether it is Calhoun, and let's go play."
Manning can ask his big brother Peyton what it is like to lose so many offensive weapons. Peyton Manning and the Colts have lost several offensive players this season to injuries.
"Moaning doesn't help," Manning said. "You start complaining about it ... it doesn't fix anything. It just makes it worse."
The Giants (6-4) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) on Sunday.
