National Football League

WR Nicks hopes to play in preseason finale

Published Aug. 27, 2012 11:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks hopes to play in the New York Giants' preseason finale against the New England Patriots Wednesday.

Nicks broke his right foot during Organized Team Activities this spring and started training camp on the physically unable to perform list. He was put on the active roster just before the team left the University of Albany two weeks ago, and he started running at full speed in practice Sunday.

''It looks pretty good,'' Nicks said. ''I'm supposed to be able to take some live snaps this week. That's what (equals)Coach (Coughlin) told me yesterday when I asked him. Doctor said the same thing, so that's what we look forward to doing.''

Nicks, who was the Giants' top receiver in the playoffs last season, has not played in the preseason, but is anxious to get going.

''Definitely can't wait, going against some live action knowing that somebody is going to be hitting me after I catch the ball now,'' Nicks said. ''It will get my feet wet a little bit for this opening game. That's what I look forward to, getting some live snaps and hopefully I get in a couple routine routes down with Eli (Manning).''

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Cornerback Terrell Thomas said the Giants are being cautious as he rehabilitates his right knee.

Thomas, who had reconstructive surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament last year, aggravated the injury days into training camp this summer. He went to see three doctors and the consensus was that he did not need more surgery.

Thomas, who was projected as a starter, has been running on an underwater treadmill, working on an elliptical and doing squatting, lunging and other exercises. He hopes to start running Wednesday or Thursday. He wrote on his blog this past weekend that he wanted to play in the season opener against Dallas Sept. 5.

''I know there was a big buzz about the comment on my blog, and you know, it's in the doctor's hands,'' he said. ''That's what I'm shooting for as a player. I'm never going to sell myself short. I always want to compete and I've been pushing myself very hard in the weight room and in the training room and I feel great. I feel like I'm improving, my leg feels great.''

With Thomas sidelined and Prince Amukamara (ankle sprain) and rookie Jayron Hosley (turf toe) not practicing, the Giants (No. 3 in the AP Pro32) are thin at cornerback.

''We can't get right at corner. It was Aaron (Ross) then me, then Prince, now Prince (again) and me and Hosley,'' Thomas said. ''We're all suffering from it. But we're all working hard to get back and once we all get back out there, we'll be at full force and that's the goal.''

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Safety Tyler Sash said the reason he had to leave practice on Sunday was because he has bone spurs in his left ankle and they locked up during the workout. He said the same thing happened once or twice in college and cleared up after a couple of days. He hopes to play on Wednesday in the preseason finale against New England.

Sash, who was suspended by the league for the first four games of the regular season for using a banned substance, was to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to discuss the case. The league has already denied his appeal. He would like an explanation why the league would suspend him for using a prescription a doctor gave him to combat anxiety while speaking.

''I'm just going in there open-minded and anything that comes of it is meant to be,'' he said. ''I'm the type of person, I'm going to continue on. I'm going to try to continue to get better no matter what happens to me. If I get four games, it's a lesson learned. If it gets reduced, it gets reduced. If it gets taken away, it gets taken away. But I'm going in there expecting right now, as everyone knows, I still have four games.

''I just want to talk to him and see what's going on.''

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EXTRA POINTS: Will Beatty was at practice after missing most of training camp with back issues. He worked at left tackle and Sean Locklear moved to the right side. David Diehl took most of the afternoon off. ... DE Justin Tuck went to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to have his shoulder examined. Coach Tom Coughlin said it was precautionary. ... DEs, Jason Pierre-Paul (back) and Osi Umenyiora (knee) also didn't practice, but are expected to be ready for the season opener. ... RB Ahmad Bradshaw practiced on Monday. He bruised his right hand against the Jets Aug. 18.

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Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL