There are six players on the initial injury report for the Giants as they embark on their biggest week of the season, and five of them did not practice Wednesday, four days before their hugely important game against the Cowboys.
But Hakeem Nicks surprisingly missed practice as well due to a groin issue, though he was not on the injury list and was not mentioned during Tom Coughlin’s morning press conference.
Nicks rode the stationary bicycle. The sense is this is not a serious problem and Nicks will find his way onto the practice field sometime this week.
After last Sunday’s 27-13 victory over the Packers, Nicks  said he bumped knees with cornerback Tramon Williams in the second quarter. That is likely the reason Nicks did not work.
Nicks took himself off the field for a few plays against the Packers, and on one of the plays, his replacement, Louis Murphy Jr., ran the wrong route on his only offensive snap, resulting in Eli Manning’s only interception of the game.
Before halftime, Nicks looked extremely upset on the sideline and was given an emotional pep talk by teammate Brandon Jacobs. Nicks later explained he was frustrated with himself for not coming down with a pass in the end zone because he has not been given many opportunities to score. Nicks is the only receiver in the NFL with 35 or more receptions to not have a touchdown catch.
Three of the six players on the injury report are cornerbacks, which is never comforting with the Giants about to face Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten. One of the corners, Terrell Thomas, is not injured and merely was sitting out Wednesday as part of his regular schedule to ease the load on his twice-surgically repaired right knee.
The newcomer to the injury report is Trumaine McBride, who came out of the game with the Packers with a hip pointer. McBride has become a significant player for the Giants, moving into the starting lineup with injuries at cornerback to Aaron Ross (on season-ending injured reserve) and Corey Webster.
Also not working: FB John Conner (hip pointer), RB Brandon Jacobs (knee), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder). Pierre-Paul, named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his interception return for a touchdown against Scott Tolzien and the Packers, had his bruised right shoulder wrapped. Coughlin said Pierre-Paul’s shoulder is sore.
Webster, who has missed the six of the last eight games with groin and ankle issues, returned for limited work. Â He said the issue now is a high ankle sprain.
“This was the first time for me cutting and breaking and I still feel some pain,’’ said Webster, who is a longshot to play on Sunday.