Fantasy update for replacement refs: Nicks, Bradshaw, Hixon not practicing

It’s no surprise that the three offensive players who were injured in the first half of the game against the Bucs were not practicing today as the Giants had their lone on-the-field preparation for the Panthers game on Thursday night.

David Diehl (knee), Domenik Hixon (concussion) and Ahmad Bradshaw (neck) were not even in the field house as the Giants practiced. The Giants have not addressed the extent of their injuries yet – Tom Coughlin spoke with the media early yesterday before he received any updates from the medical staff – but it is believed none of them are season-ending injuries. Diehl has an injured MCL that will likely not require surgery, Bradshaw is said to have a sprained neck, and Hixon will have to make his way through the NFL’s concussion protocol before returning to the field.

You’ll be hard pressed to find any of those three on the field Thursday night. Adjust your fantasy rosters accordingly.

Another injury the Giants are keeping a close eye on involves a player who might be able to make it against the Panthers. That’s Hakeem Nicks, who was riding the stationary bike during practice and did not appear to be participating. Nicks is coming off foot surgery and injured his ankle when it was stepped on during a fourth-quarter play against the Bucs. Nicks will likely want to play in his home state of North Carolina on Thursday, but he may not be able to. Clearly he’ll at the very least not be practicing this week, and with a 9-day respite before the Week 4 game against the Eagles the Giants may want to hold him out and have him ready for that divisional game.

A few other injury notes: Prince Amukamara (ankle) and Michael Coe (hamstring) were both practicing. So was Keith Rivers (hamstring). We’ll find out later whether those guys are limited or practicing fully. Adewale Ojomo (hamstring) also returned to practice. He’d missed a few sessions and was out against the Bucs.

And Marvin Austin, who dressed for the game on Sunday but did not get on the field, was practicing. There’s a chance he could play Thursday. Having played his college football at UNC, I’m sure that would be something he would enjoy.