Giants Friday Injury Report: Nicks is IN

According to the New York Giants DT Rocky Bernard, RB Andre Brown, and S Kenny Phillips are out for Sundays game in San Francisco.  Hakeem Nicks is playing for the first time in three weeks.

The Giants will once again call on Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn to fill in at the defensive tackle spot, against a team that leads the NFL in rushing. Without a middle pass rush, and without a stout showing from the middle of the line on running plays, the 49ers could have their way with the Giants defense come Sunday afternoon.  This game might well come down to how the Giants offense can perform against the 9ers defense, which means that both Eli Manning and Ahmad Bradshaw must find a way to be successful.  The O-Line certainly has it’s work cut out for them, and it will be their game to win or lose.

The good news may be that the Giants will get Keith Rivers back at line backer, along with Boley and Blackburn.  DB Jayron Hosley, S Antrel Rolle, And WR Ramses Barden will all be available.

A tough game has been made a bit tougher due to the loss of Bernard, and the fact that Chris Canty is still one week away from returning.  Time to find a scheme that protects the middle, and allows the defensive ends a shot at the QB, but look for all the different blocking schemes San Fran will employ in the run game, as they try and exploit what could be a major weakness at this point.