ALBANY — Following practice yesterday, coach Tom Coughlin was speaking about Hakeem Nicks, and when the Giants’ top receiver might return from the broken foot that has kept him out of training camp.
“It will be soon,’’ Coughlin said.
Actually, it will be today.
Nicks cleared his physical exam, has been removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list and is now on the active roster. He will be limited for the next three practices and won’t be on the field for Saturday night’s preseason game against the Jets, but Nicks is on schedule to get in a preseason game before the Sept. 5 regular-season opener against the Cowboys.
“I’m very excited about that,” Nicks said. “They’re letting me know that by the beginning of next week I can start doing some stuff with the team; some individual and stuff like that. They still want me to take it slow and be smart about it. But I feel good about being out there progressing myself with the team slowly but surely.”
The Giants initially set a 12-week time frame for Nicks, who fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot on May 24. This Friday is exactly 12 weeks from the day of Nicks’ surgery, as a screw was inserted to hasten the healing process. Nicks proclaimed he was a fast healer, and indeed that appears to be the case.
* Justin Tuck has heard enough of people saying the Giants were lucky to win the Super Bowl. In recent days, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and 49ers safety Donte Whitner both expressed that sentiment. “There’s some sore losers in the world, ain’t it?’’ Tuck said. “I mean, I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me much. Last time I checked we won the Super Bowl.’’ … Coughlin is losing patience with the hamstring issue keeping linebacker Michael Boley out of practice. “We’re scratching our head on that one,’’ he said.
“I just keep looking at time going by. It’s not a very good subject.’’
* The Giants have unveiled their motto for this season, as several players were walking around wearing gray T-shirts that read “Build The Bridge.’’ Meaning? “Six games,’’ Coughlin said. “They played pretty well. New season. Can we bring these six over? Leave the first 14 back where they were, with the exception of a few. Let’s bring the good things forward.’’ Did the players understand the message? “After I spent an hour with them, they got it,’’ Coughlin said. … Osi Umenyiora calls Adrian Tracy “Young Osi,’’ not to be confused with “Wosi,’’ which is what he used to call Dave Tollefson. “It’s kind of crazy, we have all these different Yosis and Wosis going around when Osi’s still here,’’ Umenyiora said. “I just take that as a compliment.’’ … Defensive tackles Shaun Rogers (calf) and Martin Parker (back) were sent to Manhattan to have injuries checked out.