Jason Witten, Hakeem Nicks not assured of playing in opener

Neither Jason Witten nor Hakeem Nicks are locks to play Wednesday night, but neither has been ruled out of the season-opening game.

The Cowboys listed their tight end as "doubtful" on the final injury report, meaning he has about a 25-percent chance of playing. Witten, who suffered a lacerated spleen in the preseason, traveled to New Jersey with the team Tuesday.

Nicks, meanwhile, was listed as "questionable," or 50-50, by the Giants after missing two days of practice this week with soreness in his surgically repaired foot. Nicks and Tom Coughlin both said they expect him to play and that the rest was a way of ensuring that.

As for the rest of the final injury report, Prince Amukamara (ankle), Marvin Austin (back) and James Brewer (back) have been ruled out for the Giants. Mathias Kiwanuka (groin), Will Beatty (back) and Michael Boley (hamstring) were among the projected starters listed as questionable for the Giants, along with Nicks.

Randle schools Giants

It isn't often that a rookie receiver who hasn't played in a regular-season game gives advice to established stars like Nicks and Victor Cruz. But that's what Rueben Randle was able to do this week. Randle not only played against Cowboys rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne in practice each day at LSU, but the two players were close friends and even roommates during part of their freshman year. So Randle was able to pass along a few tips on Claiborne's techniques and styles.

"I told them he likes to hit them a lot, so just be prepared for that," Randle said. "You have to get his hands off you because once he gets his hands on you, he can control you. So that's what I remember coming from the practice field. You have to get him to open up his hips, because if he gets comfortable, he's going to be able to break and run with you."

Giant steps

The game kicks off at 8:30 Wednesday night, and a ceremony honoring the four Giants Super Bowl-winning teams will begin at 8 . . . Former Giants center Shaun O'Hara announced his retirement this weekend. "I will always feel like a Giant," the Super Bowl champion said at a short ceremony at the Giants' complex Monday, "and beat them Cowboys!"