Giants hurting at receiver, offensive line

Steve Smith won't play Sunday against the Cowboys - and likely not against the Eagles a week from Sunday - adding another key player to the list of Giants out of action as a run of NFC East games begins.

Smith suffered a partially torn pectoral muscle in practice Thursday and he wasn't on the practice field Friday, so the Giants ruled him out of Sunday's game.

"It's going to be one of those deals, hopefully week to week, and we'll see," coach Tom Coughlin said. "They say a limited amount of time [for Smith to be out], but not necessarily right away or this week or next week. I won't know until he starts rehabbing."

Also expected out for Sunday's game: offensive linemen Shaun O'Hara (foot) and David Diehl (hip/hamstring), fullback Madison Hedgecock (hamstring) and punt returner Darius Reynaud (hamstring).

The first three plus Smith means four of the regular starting 11 on the Giants' offense are out.

Without Smith - the Giants' leading receiver a year ago who has 47 catches for 517 yards and three touchdowns this season - Hakeem Nicks and the rest of the team's receivers know things will be different.

Mario Manningham moves up to be the second receiver and Ramses Barden and Duke Calhoun, who have seen little action on offense, will be in more prominent roles. None of those receivers are likely to draw the attention Smith did, something that has allowed Nicks to have a breakout season, with 51 catches, 653 yards and nine touchdowns.

SEE PHOTOSTop 10 Giants of all time

"We'll see how defenses approach us now," Nicks said. "Mario's going to have to step up, Ramses is going to have to step up. Those guys have to come prepared to play."

The offensive line shuffle may continue, as well, even with the expected absences of O'Hara and Diehl. Will Beatty, who has missed seven games with a broken foot, increased his workload this week and is listed as questionable; it's doubtful he'd jump into the starting lineup, but he could see work on the makeshift left side of the line.

Kevin Boothe and rookie Mitch Petrus took the bulk of the work at left guard, between Shawn Andrews and Rich Seubert.

O'Hara said Friday that the recovery time for a Lisfranc joint sprain on his right foot is anywhere from 2-8 weeks. "This injury is different for everybody," O'Hara said. "Every week feels like a month these days."

The offensive line has managed to keep producing despite the shuffle.

The receiving corps now needs to see if it can keep producing without its most reliable member. Smith set a franchise record with 107 receptions last season.

Notes & quotes: RB Brandon Jacobs (illness) and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), who both sat out practice Wednesday, practiced fully Friday and are probable.