NFL

Healthy Hixon has eyes on Giants’ third-receiver spot

Domenik Hixon (UPI)

The Giants were only playing their first preseason game Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C., but wide receiver Domenik Hixon was more than happy just to be back on the field and in uniform again for an NFL game.

“I took about 15 minutes during pregame at midfield, and kind of hung out and took it all in,” Hixon said before yesterday’s practice. “This is what I worked for, and it was more joy and happiness than anything.”

Saturday’s game against the Panthers was the first game action for Hixon since he tore his ACL during practice last summer, knocking him out for the entire 2010 season. He finished the game with four catches for 49 yards.

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“It was good to see Hixon back there,” Eli Manning said. “He’s been a good player for us in the past, and [we] missed him last year. He’s a guy who can play a number of spots, catches the ball . . . It’s good to see him back in the action, getting some catches and back to his old self.”

Hixon, who has been taking every other day off of practice, said he hadn’t had a chance to speak to the trainers yet, and wasn’t sure if that would continue after he made it through Saturday’s game unscathed.

Now that he’s healthy again, Hixon also has a chance to become a larger part of the offense. With Steve Smith signing with the Eagles, Hixon will likely get the first crack at replacing Smith as the Giants’ third receiver behind starters Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.

“He’s played all the spots, made some big catches, had touchdowns for us,” Manning said. “He is very dependable, and a guy who can step up and make some big plays for us.”

After beginning his career primarily as a return man, Hixon did not get any punt or kick return work against Carolina. But he worked with the punt returners during yesterday’s practice, and isn’t planning on staying away from return duties for long.

“I think eventually I’ll end up winning that spot,” he said. “It’s kind of something that they’ve got a plan, and we’re sticking to it.

“Things may look good, but we’re sticking to the plan.”

tbontemps@nypost.com