IRVING, Texas --Stealing the season opener on the road against the world champion Giants would be a little easier without a healthy Hakeem Nicks.
The Giants' second-leading receiver in 2011 (76 catches, 1,192 yards, 7 touchdowns) has said his fractured foot will be fully healed and ready in time for the Sept. 5 opener against Dallas.
The back end of the Giants' 12-week timetable would indeed have Nicks back just before Week 1. Of course, the club also won't rush back one of their most valuable offensive players. Rookie Rueben Randle will step in for now.
In deciding (at least for now) that cornerback Mike Jenkins will be on the roster this season, the Cowboys surely have the Giants' receivers in mind. In two wins over the Cowboys, Victor Cruz and Nicks combined for 25 catches, 491 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The more corners against those guys, the better. It remains to be seen whether newcomers Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne will match up against Nicks on national TV to start the season.
