:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4667341/131690305.jpg)
Reports indicate Giants WR Hakeem Nicks' foot surgery was successful. hat's a good thing for Nicks and the Giants. And Steelers fans should be resigned to understanding why WR Mike Wallace is not participating in OTAs.
Nicks broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot Thursday while running a route in the defending champs' OTA session. He had surgery the following day and is expected to be inactive for the next 12 weeks (although Nicks' agent, Peter Schaffer, told the New York Post they're waiting on a post-surgery estimate).
If it is the 12 week originally anticipated for recovery, Nicks would be out for their entire training camp.
Injuries are often fluke things, occurring despite outstanding conditioning, proper technique and usual stress. While the odds of what happened to Nicks happening to any other receiver in the league are low, it's still a big risk to take for a player like Wallace, who's eyeing a long-term extension.
What if Nicks blew out his ACL? He's likely out for the entire season. Since it would be considered a football injury, he would still accrue a season of eligibility, thus making him an unrestricted free agent in 2012, but his stock, coming off a severe knee injury, would likely drop off quite a bit.
The NFL is ultimately a business, and Nicks' injury only gives Wallace more reason (not defending or supporting his agenda) to avoid team-issued workouts.