When New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks had to miss last Thursday's game in Carolina due to his foot injury, the thought was that the week and a half off before the Week 4 game would provide enough time to get him healthy. However, Nicks showed up on the Giants' injury report Friday as "doubtful" for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, having added a knee problem to the foot injury that's troubled him since spring.

The designation is a surprise, as through Thursday Nicks appeared to be following his normal practice plan and on track to play in the key divisional showdown. And while they haven't ruled him out just yet and might not decide on his status until just before the game, popping up as doubtful with a new injury on Friday is not a sure recipe for being 100 percent by game time Sunday.

Should Nicks have to miss his second game in a row, either Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden or some combination of the two would pick up the slack. Barden had the big game last week in Carolina while Hixon also sat out after suffering a concussion the week before, but Hixon is back for this game, and the two of them together could help take some of the pressure off of Victor Cruz.

Regardless, losing Nicks for this game would be a hit. Philadelphia isn't the same kind of pushover on defense that the Panthers were last week. Carolina chose to double-team Cruz while Barden ate them alive, but the Eagles have more coverage weapons to make life difficult for Eli Manning and his backup receivers if need be.