WR Hakeem Nicks back at practice, O’Hara out probably until Monday

WR Nicks returns to practice, C O’Hara still out

ALBANY, N.Y. — Second-year receiver Hakeem Nicks is back at practice for the New York Giants.

Last year’s first-round draft pick returned Thursday night, just two days after hyperextending his right knee late in practice.

While Nicks returned for the first full pads practice, starting center Shaun O’Hara is still out with swelling in his left ankle.

O’Hara has not practiced since Sunday, when he ran conditioning drills and took part in a light workout. He has missed six practices.

An MRI showed only swelling around the joint. Coach Tom Coughlin hopes to have the 33-year-old back at practice on Monday.

Nicks was hurt when he came down the wrong way on a pass in the end zone on Tuesday. He had two MRIs that showed no serious injury.

“I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with it, but it was something I wanted to get checked out because for that split-second I felt a little something,” Nicks said. “But I felt like I was fine and I was relieved when the results came back.”

Nicks had 47 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. He finished third on the team in receptions behind Steve Smith and Mario Manningham.

Nicks is practicing once a day as he comes back from offseason toe surgery.

O’Hara has started all but five regular-season games at center since joining the Giants as a free agent in 2004. Four of the games he missed came in that first season with the other coming in 2006. He has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.

“The toughest part was just not knowing what was going on and why there was swelling,” O’Hara said. “Certainly, the MRI was comforting to know there wasn’t anything new or super-serious. We’re just kind of taking it day by day to see how it responds now.”

O’Hara said the joint problem was not arthritis.

“There is obviously wear and tear on any joint when you’re in your 12th year in the NFL,” the former Rutgers star said. “For whatever reason, it just picked that time to flare up.”

Manningham (groin) and backup tight end Travis Beckum (hamstring) missed both practices on Thursday. Safety Deon Grant missed the team portion of the evening practice after tweaking his groin in the morning.

EXTRA POINTS: S Antrel Rolle capped the evening practice by intercepting an Eli Manning pass in the 2-minute drill. He intercepted Jim Sorgi earlier in the workout. … Veteran receiver Derek Hagan has been outstanding in camp. He caught two more deep balls Thursday. … Second-year OT Will Beatty was ripped by O-Line coach Pat Flaherty after missing blocks on two consecutive plays. … PK Lawrence Tynes has not missed a FG attempt in camp other than the one on which Zak DeOssie airmailed a snap over the head of holder Matt Dodge. … Giants ran a nice flea-flicker with Manning handing off to Brandon Jacobs, taking a return pitch and finding Sinorice Moss 25 yards downfield.