NFL

Giants’ Nicks slowly improving from knee, ankle injuries

LANDOVER, Md. — For the past month or so, Hakeem Nicks smiles and says he’s feeling better than he has at any time this season.

“Doesn’t he tell you that every week?” Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “Is he convincing you, himself or the opposition?”

Maybe all three. Nicks is slowly getting healthier from foot and knee injuries and his production on the field the past two games (14 catches, 152 yards, one touchdown) is an indication he’s on the way to regaining his form. But Nicks is not close to the break-out receiver he has been, a fact Gilbride glumly admits.

“You love the fact that he’s trying,” Gilbride said. “He refused to accept being hurt, and he knows we’re better when he’s out there, and he’s trying to do everything he can. I admire that and everything else, but he’s not the same guy yet as he was, there’s no question about that.

“It’s probably not fair how much we expect of him, but we do, and he expects it himself. And so we’re playing like, ‘Hey, you’re still the No. 1 guy, go make plays for us.’ ”

In the lead-up to tonight’s game against the Redskins, Nicks said, you guessed, it, he’s feeling better than he has at any time this season.

“He is getting better, I definitely think that,’’ Gilbride said.

* Safety Kenny Phillips, listed as doubtful after aggravating his right knee injury last week that kept him out of the previous six games, made the trip with the team.

He is unlikely to be able to heal by game-time but, by making the trip, the Giants are at least holding out hope that Phillips might improve enough to give it a shot. LB Jacquian Williams (knee) and TE Travis Beckum (knee) are the only two players not on the trip and declared out for the game.

* The road has never bothered Eli Manning. His record as a starter is 76-54 — he is 38-28 at home and 38-26 on the road. … Incredible but true: The Redskins have lost 10 straight home Monday Night Football games.

* The Redskins, 5-6 and winners of two straight, are pointing to this game as make-or-break as far as their slim playoff chances.

“It’s huge for us,’’ CB DeAngelo Hall said. “In the past couple of weeks, you know, we started out 3-6, before these last two wins, and to be 3-6 and still have a shot, a slim chance, but still have that chance, it was amazing. The guys in this locker room are definitely rallying behind that.’’

* Safety Antrel Rolle loved what he saw from his team in last week’s 38-10 beat-down of the Packers but isn’t ready to say the Giants are back.

“If we can carry over that same intensity, that same attitude I think we’ll have a pretty good game,’’ Rolle said. “It’s all up to us Monday night to showcase what we got and who we are as a team.’’