Hakeem Nicks Injury: Could the New York Giants Bring Back Plaxico Burress?

By Peter Martin | May 25 2012 9:33 AM

A year after Eli Manning lit up the league with a triple threat of Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham as the Giants won to the Super Bowl, he may have a lot less to work with.

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Hakeem Nicks will miss 12 weeks with a broken bone in his foot.

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Manningham, who made the catch that sealed the Super Bowl victory in February, is gone to San Francisco in free agency and now the Giants have found out that Nicks will miss 12 weeks with a broken bone in his foot.

Barring any setbacks the Giants won't get Nicks back until late August, about a week before the season starts for the Giants when they host the Cowboys on September 5. Even once he is back, he may still be hampered by the injury.

Nicks broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot while running routes during Giants OTAs on Thursday and recovery from that kind of surgery is long and difficult. There is not much blood flow to the area, and healing can take a long time.

Giants' cornerback Prince Amukamara broke the same bone on August 6 of last season and was unable to play until November 20 and he never looked like the player the Giants hoped he would be when they selected him in the first round in 2011.

The Giants are left with Victor Cruz and a slew of unproven, young wide receivers remaining on their depth chart. But if they choose to look elsewhere there are still some interesting options available to them.

Plaxico Burress could be an interesting fit here. He is still a free agent after leaving the Jets at the end of last season. He had expressed interest in the Eagles and the Dolphins so far this offseason, but neither team has reciprocated his interest.

Burress is 35 years old, but he was effective last season catching 45 balls for 612 yards and eight touchdowns with Mark Sanchez throwing him the ball.

He was a member of the Giants for three and a half seasons before he accidentally shot himself in a New York City nightclub and ended up in prison for two years so he is familiar with the Giants and their organization.

He and Manning combined for 33 touchdowns, 244 catches and 3,681 yards over their time together and the big man could make for a nice piece at the right price.

Terrell Owens is also still at large, though as he has not played in an NFL game since 2010, he is a huge question mark.

Players like T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton are also still available should the Giants decide they need another body.