NFL

Giants’ Nicks ready to play after swelling down in knee

Hakeem Nicks said he did not suffer a setback this week when his left knee swelled up following the Giants’ 24-20 loss to the Steelers.

Nicks, with his knee wrapped, was able to practice yesterday and said all of the swelling is gone from the knee and he will play Sunday in Cincinnati.

“I did as much as I would normally do in a practice,’’ Nicks said. “Yesterday was just taking a day off. It was still a little swollen, a little puffy from the game like it always is after the game. This time it was just a little bit more puffy so they wanted to sit me down for a day and I got back out there and everything was fine.’’

Dealing with foot and knee issues all season, Nicks has just 27 catches and one touchdown.

Asked if he’s concerned about his lack of production, Nicks said, “No, man, because stats are for girls. It’s football. The season is going to be up and down. It’s about how you ride the wave and if you let it affect you. I know I’m a great football player and we’re ready to make this run after the bye week.’’

Nicks meant nothing offensive with the remark. He said when he was in high school his coach used to say players interested in stats only were looking to impress the girls.

* RG Chris Snee sat again with a sprained ankle and he is unlikely to play. If that’s the case, right tackle David Diehl will move inside to Snee’s right guard spot and Sean Locklear will be re-inserted at right tackle.

“[Snee is] such an integral part of what we do,’’ offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “Obviously you lose him, you lose a good football player but you also lose a very intelligent football player.A guy who’s been an anchor for the group.’’

Otherwise on the injury front there were promising signs from DT Chris Canty (groin) and LB Chase Blackburn (hamstring), who practiced on a limited basis. RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), C David Baas (ankle/elbow), LB Keith Rivers (calf) and TE Bear Pascoe (ankle) also were all able to practice on a limited basis. In addition to Snee, CB Michael Coe (hamstring), safety Kenny Phillips (knee) and LB Jacquian Williams (knee) did not work.

* DE Jason Pierre-Paul said some players on defense are trying to do too much.

“It’s not basketball. It’s not a one-man game,’’ Pierre-Paul said. “If one person does something wrong, it messes up the whole defense. So basically we’ve just got to get everybody on the right track and play football. You can’t be selfish at all. People on this team were being kind of selfish and did their individual things, but this is football.’’