Tuck, Nicks return to practice field
Despite sitting out with injuries Friday, Justin Tuck (ankle) and Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) sounded virtually certain that they will be able to play against the Cowboys Monday night. Both returned to the practice field yesterday, taking a big step toward fulfilling those promises.
Tuck practiced fully and is listed as probable. Nicks was limited in practice and is questionable.
Nicks blamed his hamstring soreness on "fatigue" from a lot of running and reps.
"I've dealt with this before, so I know how to approach it now," he said Friday. "I just want to make the right decisions."
Namath slams Cowboys
The Jets may be off this week, but one of their greatest players has not taken a bye. Joe Namath ripped the 1-4 Cowboys in his weekly appearance on Sirius NFL Radio.
"Their focus has been horrendous," Namath said. "You look at the number of penalties and breakdowns they've had; their head's not in the game, it really isn't. The smarter teams come out on top, the teams that don't destroy themselves . . . I really believe they all feel like they're big stars and they're not working as hard as they think they are."
Giant steps
The Giants have not played a Sunday afternoon regular-season game in Dallas since 2005. They played Sunday night games there from 2007-09 and a Monday night game in 2006 . . . This will be the eighth straight Monday night road game for the Giants, who have not played a home game on Monday since 2003, when they lost to the Cowboys, 35-32, in overtime . . . Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware has 711/2 career sacks. The quarterback he's taken down the most is Eli Manning, a victim eight times for 57 yards. Of the others, only Donovan McNabb (61/2) has been sacked more than four times . . . FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring) was ruled out along with T Will Beatty (foot) and DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck). Besides Tuck, DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), LB Keith Bulluck (toe) and K Lawrence Tynes (ankle) were listed as probable.