Sorting through all the time frames and conjecture, what Giants fans want to know from Hakeem Nicks is this: Does the big-play receiver have any doubt he will be on the field Sept. 5 for the regular-season opener against the Cowboys?
“Nah, I don’t have any doubt,’’ Nicks said yesterday from Charlotte, N.C.
Nicks is barely one week into his rehab on the fractured fifth metatarsal he suffered last Thursday while running what he called “a simple hook route’’ during an OTA practice. When he turned back for the ball he said he felt “a little snap’’ in his right foot and an X-ray revealed what Nicks described as “a slight little crack.’’
Last Friday, Nicks underwent surgery, and a screw was inserted into the foot to help the healing process. The procedure was performed in Charlotte by foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who offered Nicks some encouraging words.
“He had people come back early, four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks,’’ Nicks said. “It really just ranges.’’
The Giants have put a 12-week timetable on Nicks’ return.
“The team wants to take it slow, 12 weeks is what they’re giving me, so that’s what we’re going by,’’ Nicks said. “My goal is always to come back earlier. Just don’t want setbacks, going to play it smart and be ready for the season.’’
Nicks told coach Tom Coughlin that he wants to be back for the start of training camp, which is July 26, but that is seemingly an unrealistic goal.
But he is getting around wearing a walking boot and already has been running in a pool. In another week, Nicks will be able to ride a stationary bike and work on the elliptical machine. He plans on returning next week to rehab at the Giants facility and will make the June 8 trip to the White House when the Super Bowl champion Giants meet President Obama.
The key, Nicks said, is making sure he keeps up with his conditioning, not an easy assignment for someone with a sweet tooth and a broken foot.
“Just got to make sure you’re eating all the right things and not getting too big,’’ he said.
Fitting back in with the offense shouldn’t be much of a problem.
“I don’t think it’s going to be too hard,’’ Nicks said. “I know the plays, I know the whole offense, so that won’t be hard. It’s going to be a matter of being able to put together 10 to 12, 15-play drives without getting fatigued.
“Obviously if I feel something while I’m running and I’m going to listen to my body,” he added. “I’m going to be smart about it. I’m going to be smart about it on my first day back. I’m not going to get in and jump in and do a whole practice. I might just jump in the first practice and do individual drills, work it in with 25 percent reps. The next practice 50 percent, then work my way into it until full practice. I don’t think they will just have me jump out into a full practice once I’m ready to go and cleared by the doctors. I know our trainers do a good job of working us back into it.’’
Nicks has some experience working his way back from a foot problem. He needed surgery to repair his left big toe after his rookie season but did not miss any time in training camp.
“I don’t have any worries about it,’’ Nicks said of his broken foot. “It’s a minor setback.’’