Phillips, Nicks On Injury Report

Last week safety Kenny Phillips was brimming with optimism about returning to the lineup after a four-week absence due to a knee injury. However, despite practicing all week, Phillips ended up being a game day  scratch against the Steelers and will not work at all this week as the Giants prepare for the Bengals.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin continues to insist that Philips didn’t have a set back with his knee. The former first round draft pick apparently doesn’t yet have the explosiveness and cutting ability in the joint that would enable him to do what the team needs done on defense. Phillips will take the next two weeks to get his knee right.

One player who definitely had a setback though is receiver Hakeem Nicks, who was back on the injury report with a knee issue. Coughlin confirmed that Nicks is experiencing swelling in the joint and that the receiver won’t practice on Wednesday. Nicks’ status moving forward is undetermined.

Also confirmed as not practicing today is right guard Chris Snee (ankle).  Snee was injured early on in last week’s loss against the Steelers. With the Giants having cut Mitch Petrus last week to make room for Travis Beckum off PUP, if Snee can’t go, the team would likely move David Diehl inside to guard and restore Sean Locklear to the right tackle opposition.

Running back Andre Brown (shoulder) is expected to practice, although he’ll likely be limited. Coughlin said that between Brown’s limitations and Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) not practicing, rookie David Wilson would get a little more work in practice.

The rest of the Giants injury report includes center David Baas (ankle), linebacker Chase Blackburn (hamstring), defensive tackle Chris Canty (groin), tight end Bear Pascoe (ankle), and linebackers Keith Rivers (calf) and Jacquian Williams( (knee). Their statuses will be updated after practice.