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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –** The Giants will be short-staffed in both the front and back of their defense and in the offensive backfield when they visit the Washington Redskins Sunday night in FedExField.
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But the injury news today wasn't all negative. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who did not play in the loss to Dallas last week with an abdomen injury, practiced fully and is listed as probable.
"I practiced all week," Nicks said, "I think I showed them enough this week in practice, so I think everything will be good to go."
Pierre-Paul will miss a game for the first time in his four-year career. He has played in 59 consecutive regular-season games, which ties him with Antrel Rolle for the team's third-longest streak behind Eli Manning (146) and Zak DeOssie (107).
The two-time Pro Bowler had one tackle in limited duty last week, when his injured shoulder affected his play.
"He definitely was not himself last weekend," coach Tom Coughlin said, "and there are obviously some things to deal with there from a standpoint of the injury, so he hasn't been able to practice this week.
"There's an injury and he's dealing with it. He certainly was sore after the Packers game (two weeks ago) and he really had a tough week. It was a tough week for him. He tried to go. He wasn't able to do the things he wanted to do and that carried over into this week."
Mathias Kiwanuka will start at right defensive end, as he has in five games this season, including last week. Kiwanuka leads the Giants with 4.0 sacks. Tackle Cullen Jenkins could get some snaps at end and rookie Damontre Moore, who has played primarily on special teams, will likely see some action on defense.
"We'll play Moore, we'll get him ready," defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. "We'll also play Jenkins and move him outside a little bit. Obviously we have a plan that we'll do a couple different things in certain situations."
Moore would be challenged no matter which team he faced in his first extended stint at end, but Washington will be particularly taxing.
"This is a difficult offense for any defensive end because it is a read option offense, it is a play action offense," Fewell said. "They do a number of things to make the defensive ends think, so it is quite difficult."
So is the situation in the secondary. McBride had started five games in a row and six of the last seven games after injuries sidelined Webster and Aaron Ross, who is on injured reserve. McBride aggravated a groin late in the Dallas game, forcing safety Antrel Rolle to play at nickel corner on the Cowboys' game-winning drive.
"Actually, we were in dime personnel so we have six DBs on the field," Fewell said. "We had every DB who dressed and was healthy. That's why Antrel had to go down and Hosley went out to the corner and Ryan Mundy came in."
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Webster has missed seven of the last nine games with groin and ankle injuries.
"You're talking about really two players. McBride goes down and Webster's not there," Fewell said. "When you have four strong corners and you're using one of the third guys, which is T2 (Terrell Thomas), in the nickel slot, the level of your execution is not as good because that guy might not get enough reps at seeing the plays and doing what he should do. That's where the uneasiness comes in."
Second-year pro Jayron Hosley is ready to contribute, but he missed five games with a hamstring injury and has played sparingly in the last two months. Charles James, who has played on special teams since he was signed off the practice squad on Oct. 5, will also be counted on to contribute.
"We'll go with Jayron Hosley and we also have Charles James," Fewell said. "They've practiced all week, so we'll go that way."
"(Hosley) had a good week," Coughlin said. "He's been having a good week. He had a nice practice today. I think he's excited."
Jacobs ran for 75 yards against the Cowboys, but has been unable to practice this week because of a sore knee that kept him out of three earlier games. Coughlin said Jacobs will likely have to manage the condition of his knee for the remainder of the season, as Pierre-Paul will do with his shoulder.
Peyton Hillis, who was inactive the last two games, will likely be in uniform in Washington.
Nicks was characteristically low-key when he spoke to the media. He declined to share details of his abdominal injury.
"I'm ready to get out there Sunday night," Nicks said. "Sunday night football, it's going to be fun. I feel good. I feel real good. We'll leave it at that."
Nicks is second on the team with 42 receptions, but he has yet to score a touchdown this season. However, he will not admit that the season has been frustrating.
"I don't think it's been frustrating. It's not over," Nick said. "I've always got to be positive with my thought process. Any negative thinking isn't good for myself or the team. I think we've just got to keep on pushing to possibly give ourselves a chance of winning these last five games, so I think that's our focus. We've got to win these last five and then we'll see what happens."
