DETROIT — For a short time, the Giants appeared to have their entire offensive repertoire back on the field. Receivers Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks and left tackle David Diehl returned from injuries last night as the Giants beat the Vikings 21-3 at Ford Field.
But that doesn’t mean the Giants will be intact for Sunday’s NFC East first-place showdown with the Eagles.
Smith came back after missing four games with a partially torn pectoral muscle. He was used primarily as a slot receiver and caught only one pass — a 12-yarder in the third quarter. Smith was hauled down from behind by linebacker Chad Greenway on the play and injured a hamstring.
Smith was in noticeable pain as he walked after the game and glumly reported that he indeed had re-injured himself.
“It’s really frustrating,” he said. “I just got tackled from behind and my leg was like out, something happened. It felt good. Up to that point I felt good.”
There doesn’t seem to be any way that Smith will recover in time to face the Eagles. And he wasn’t the only receiver to leave the game. Mario Manningham suffered a hip flexor in the second quarter and did not return. His status for this weekend — after a short week of practice for the Giants — remains in question.
Nicks returned to the lineup after missing two games with a lower leg injury, and he caught a team-high seven passes for 96 yards. He was initially expected to be out three weeks but made it back in two.
“I definitely got to work the muscles out a little bit, finished the game, came out fine,” Nicks said.
Diehl, after missing four games with a partially torn hamstring, started and was part of an offensive line that paved the way for 213 rushing yards.
“I just wanted to get back out on the field, and it was awesome,” Diehl said. “Obviously I’m sore now — I haven’t played in four weeks — but I’m excited to be back.”