Giants remove Nicks from PUP list

Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has been taken off the physically unable to perform list by the New York Giants and can start practicing with the team.

The Super Bowl champions made the move Monday after Nicks passed his physical. The four-year veteran will be limited for his first three workouts. His first could be Tuesday.

''I'm very excited about that,'' Nicks said. ''They're letting me know that by the beginning of next week, I can start doing some stuff with the team; some individual and stuff like that. They still want me to take it slow and be smart about it. But I feel good about being out there progressing myself with the team slowly but surely.''

Nicks missed the first two weeks of training camp at the University at Albany while completing rehabilitation on a broken right foot that he hurt in May during Organized Team Activities. Last week, he started running some pass patterns for trainers and felt good.

Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal of his right foot on May 24. He had a screw surgically inserted into the broken bone the next day.

A first-round draft pick in 2009, Nicks caught 76 passes for 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He was outstanding in the playoffs, catching 28 passes for 444 yards (a 15.9 yard average) and four touchdowns.

Nicks hopes to be ready for the Giants' season opener against Dallas on Sept. 5.

''This is an indication that we're right where we should be,'' Nicks said. ''We're on schedule. There have been no setbacks. I'm just going to take it one step at a time and be out there catching passes from Eli (Manning) and eventually get our timing back.''

The Giants still have three players on the PUP list: defensive tackle Chris Canty, tight end Travis Beckum and linebacker Clint Sintim.

New York will have its final training camp practice Tuesday. The players have off Wednesday and then practice will be held Thursday at the team's headquarters in East Rutherford, N.J. They face the Jets in a preseason game on Saturday.