National Football League

Nicks, Smith set to return for Giants

Published Dec. 9, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Giants wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith and offensive lineman David Diehl all proclaimed Wednesday that they will play Sunday at Minnesota, the New York Post reports.

"Like some Christmas presents," exclaimed quarterback Eli Manning about the likely return of the three offensive starters.

The Giants (8-4) have gotten by without Nicks and Smith, scaling back their passing attack as they replaced a two-game skid with consecutive victories over the Jaguars and Redskins. And now, inside the climate-controlled Mall of America Field in Minneapolis, Manning could have all his toys to play with.

Of the three, there's no question Diehl will return after missing four games with a partially torn hamstring.

Nicks' return is the most surprising, given that when he came down with a lower left leg injury -- compartment syndrome -- in the Nov. 21 loss to the Eagles, the initial timetable was that he would be out three weeks. He has missed the last two games and is looking to shave one week off the expected recovery time.

To alleviate the problem, Nicks needed to undergo a surgical procedure called a fasciotomy, where his lower left leg was sliced open to relieve tension or pressure. He started running gassers on Monday, did about 20 minutes on the treadmill on Tuesday and participated in more than half of Wednesday's practice.

"Actually I did more than I expected, more than we all expected," an upbeat Nicks said. "It felt good. My mentality is if I'm practicing, I'm playing. Go hard out there in practice, hopefully they'll let me play. I'm pretty sure they will."

If necessary, Nicks said he will play even if his stitches running down the outside of his left leg haven't been removed.

Smith said he participated in the entire practice, though the Giants are listing him as limited. No matter. Smith, out the past four games with a partially torn pectoral muscle, said he felt "good" after practice.

"I'm thinking I'm playing, the doctors, I don't know what they're going to say but going off me, I feel like I'm going to play," Smith said. "I think Coach [Tom Coughlin] wants to get me out there."

The passing game has been fairly rudimentary without Smith and Nicks, with few downfield throws and often only two receivers sent out in routes. That should change.

"We can do a little bit more with our pass game," Manning said. "Guys will be back at their natural positions; that helps out a lot when you go into your multiple receivers."

Smith and Nicks have combined this season for more than 1,300 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while Diehl has been the team's starting left tackle for the past four seasons.