Hakeem Nicks participates in walk-through drills, says 'no doubt' he'll play

How do you define "practice?"

In Hakeem Nicks' case, he technically wasn't practicing for a second straight day. He was not wearing shoulder pads under his jersey and he was listed on the injury report as not participating in the workout.

And yet there he was Monday, taking part in some of the walk-through drills with the team, catching passes while the quarterbacks warmed up and doing some jogging. He was the target for the quarterbacks while they worked on throwing arcing passes over defenders in the corner of the end zone. But it was the second straight day he was listed as not working out.

Nicks broke a bone in his foot in the spring and required surgery. He said this week that he's still experiencing some soreness from it but that he intends to play through it.

The question remains whether he will suit up against Dallas Wednesdaynight. When it comes to a game, there's no ambiguity to the definition of "play." For the second straight day, Nicks said he has "no doubt" that he will. Tom Coughlin also was optimistic, saying, "I think he will."

Coughlin said there have been no setbacks and that the rest is intended to prevent them. "Evidently they thought it was in the best interest not to make him any sorer than he is," he said.

Nicks grudgingly has gone along with that plan, even if it has meant sneaking onto the field for those non-practicing reps. "I know it's for the better," he said. "I know they just want to take care of my foot. We don't want any setbacks. It's a big game, opening game of the season. I'm looking forward to that."

The Giants also are monitoring a few other injuries to potential starters as they close in on game time. Linebacker Michael Boley (hamstring) and left tackle Will Beatty (back) were limited, making it a strong possibility that they could miss the opener and be replaced by Keith Rivers and Sean Locklear, respectively.

The Giants have been without Nicks, Boley and Beatty for most of the preseason. Nicks is the only one who played in a game, catching one pass against the Patriots in limited action. "I just wanted to get my feet back under me a little bit," he said. "I got about 10 plays in . . . This game, I should see about 60 plays instead of 10."