Ahmad Bradshaw, Hakeem Nicks ruled out by Giants

[Lake Louise]

We didn't expect to see Ahmad Bradshaw on the field for the New York Giants against the Carolina Panthers on "Thursday Night Football," and those suspicions have been confirmed. But the Giants dropped a bombshell later on Wednesday when they downgraded wide receiver Hakeem Nicks from questionable to out with a foot injury.

Nicks, who didn't make the trip to Carolina, was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after torching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 199 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches in Week 2.

New York's starting running back also has been ruled out of the game with a neck injury, the team said. Wide receiver Domenik Hixon (concussion) and tackle David Diehl (knee) are also out for the primetime matchup against Cam Newton and the Panthers.

Andre Brown -- and not rookie David Wilson -- is expected to earn the bulk of the work against the Panthers after rushing for 71 yards on 13 carries in a win over the Buccaneers. Coughlin said this week that Wilson has a place in this offense, but the coach was obviously tweaked by the rookie's fumbling problems against the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener. Giants cornerback Michael Coe (hamstring) is questionable.

Coe's potential absence would be eased by the return of cornerback Prince Amukamara, who is probable on the heels of an ankle injury that sidelined him against Tampa Bay. Keith Rivers (hamstring) is probable and should be back on the field to bolster Big Blue's linebacker corps.

It's possible that if this was a Sunday game, these guys could be playing, but that's what happens with a Thursday Night game, less time to heal those hampering injuries. These are big blows to the Giants offense, who is playing a Panthers team that isn't easy to beat, even at full strength. The Giants Defense is going to have to step up and try to stop that Panthers offense from scoring, because without Bradshaw, Nicks, Hixon will make it tough to compete if it's a high scorer.

Not impossible though. Giants have had players miss time before and the "next man up" would fill in fine.

 

[DJT]

Interesting I could of sworn Nicks said he planned on playing regardless of his foot. He said sometimes you just got to tough it out.

Guess someone over ruled him.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Bradshaw being out doesn't worry me as much. But now having Nicks out there is brutal and it's just going to mean more targets for the black unicorn. Unless Barden or Randle steps the fuck up, this is going to be a rough game.

 

[Giants91]

D need to step up big time, especially Tuck et Osi.

 

[Lake Louise]

Apparently, it doesn't matter who is on the field for them. Bardon and Brown stepped up in their absence. That should make the Giants feel good knowing they have other options, in case they need them again. Granted, it did help to be going against the Panthers Defense, which isn't very good. Defense helped disrupt that Panthers offense too.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Barden has always had the talent but he's always been out with injuries so he never did shit for us. Guy finally was healthy and got a start and showed some promise. Again as you said it was the Panthers so take of it what you will, but at least it was a positive sign that we didn't completely waste a draft pick on him.