Hakeem Nicks impressive in first full practice

Hakeem Nicks ran a route down the right sideline, turned his body to box off a defender, and caught an Eli Manning pass just at his outside shoulder Monday. It was as if he'd never been gone.

Of course he was, sidelined for the first three-plus weeks of the preseason while recovering from surgery on the broken bone in his right foot. This catch was only in a seven-on-seven drill, but seeing Nicks make an impressive reception in his first full practice was certainly encouraging. "He seemed to be pretty good," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He seemed to feel good and moved around well and did a good job with it."

Before practice, Nicks said he expected to participate in about half the team snaps during his first full practice, and that's pretty close to what he did. "I might have some fresh legs, that's the good thing about it," he joked. "But I'm just excited to be back out there practicing with the team. I can't wait to start going for real."

Wilson practices with first team

Ahmad Bradshaw was limited in practice with a wrap on his injured right hand, creating an opportunity for first-round draft pick David Wilson to take his first reps with the first offensive unit. Normally, D.J. Ware steps in when Bradshaw cannot perform, but Coughlin said it was Wilson's time. "This is scheduled," Coughlin said. "Just the fact that he hasn't had those reps with the first group and we want to take a look at that."

Giant steps

LB Jacquian Williams returned to practice after a long layoff with a hip injury. He had an interception . . . Prince Amukamara made a leaping interception that he returned for a would-be TD in practice . . . Coughlin said DT Marvin Austin's back is responding to treatment but the team is holding him out because he might not be able to practice while taking the medication he is using to help his injury . . . LT Will Beatty (back) missed another practice. "Beatty's still struggling," Coughlin said.