Hixon coming in for check-up & perhaps a re-up

Domenik Hixon, the guy who was playing ahead of Victor Cruz early in the season and might have kept him on the bench had he remained healthy, appears to be attempting a second comeback from ACL surgery with the Giants.

Hixon was the first casualty of MetLife Stadium (then known as The New Meadowlands) when he tore his ACL in a freak injury during a minicamp practice there in the summer of 2010. He rehabbed, worked his way back, and was the team’s slot receiver in Week 2 of the season. He even made a remarkable, acrobatic, juggling catch for a touchdown in the win over the Rams. But in doing so, he re-injured his knee.

Now, on the eve of becoming a free agent, Hixon seems ready to rejoin the Giants. He’ll be in New York on Friday, his agent confirmed after it was first reported by ESPN, to visit with team doctors for a check-up. If all goes well – and the feeling is that it will based on the message from his agent, Eric Metz, who wrote that “he is 100 percent and ready to go” – he’ll then meet with Giants officials in the afternoon and perhaps even sign a contract for the 2012 season (or beyond).

A healthy Hixon would add to a position that could be missing it’s third Amigo with the free agency departure of Mario Manningham. Hixon is a proven player who knows the Giants’ system and has the confidence of Eli Manning. He would likely become the third receiver behind Hakeem Nicks and Cruz (assuming he is healthy enough to start the season at full speed). Unless, of course, the Giants draft a receiver early or sign a bigger-named free agent in the meantime.

Oh, and if you're not a fan of Hixon's, you probably don't remember the class and dignity with which he faced the news of his second ACL injury in September.