Giants Update: Hakeem Nicks Out, Antrel Rolle Game Time Decision

Aug. 18, 2011; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive back Antrel Rolle (26) before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

The New York Giants will once again be without star wide receiver Hakeem Nicks this week and veteran safety Antrel Rolle is a game time decision when they travel to take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend on Sunday Night Football.

During the week, Nicks was a surprise addition to the injury report due to his knee swelling up unexpectedly. The downgrade from Doubtful to Out confirms what had already been assumed given the lateness of his injury. Ramses Barden, who had a breakout game in week 3 against the Carolina Panthers when Nicks missed that game as well, is expected to start as the team’s X receiver but may not repeat his heroics of last week given that vet Dominik Hixon is expected to return to the starting lineup.

What may be of greater concern for the Giants is that Rolle may not play due to a laceration on his knee sustained in week 3 after he tripped over a television camera at the end of a play. The injury took Rolle out of that game – no real surprise as the Giants were comfortably ahead.

Reports until this point had been that the Giants safety would play through the pain against the Eagles. This afternoon however there was a further revelation from Giants beat writer Ohm Youngmisuk:

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/252112304135610369″]

With the myriad of injuries already sustained by the New York Giants secondary, the possibility that Rolle may not play is a body blow to this defense given that it is well documented that consistent pressure from both the pass rush and good coverage in the secondary is required to properly contain the ever agile Michael Vick. With cornerback Corey Webster likely to play hurt in this game as well, we may be in line for a big prime-time performance from Vick – something that would be welcomed by Eagles fans who have not really seen their highly paid quarterback truly cut loose since his Monday night embarrassment of the hapless Washington Redskins secondary in 2010.