"Hakeem Nicks did some running and cutting at full speed today. Thursday, he'll do individual drills. If all goes well, he'll practice Friday. And if there are no setbacks, he'll play on Sunday.

But so far, the Giants' wide receiver is only one step into that process, so he's being cautiously optimistic he can play on a strained hamstring that kept him out of Sunday's victory over the New England Patriots.

"Going to stick to the plan of more and more each day," Nicks said. "No setbacks, and that's always a good sign.""