EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Hakeem Nicks missed practice Thursday with a sore left knee. The receiver was sidelined by swelling in that knee earlier this season.

Nicks had practiced Wednesday, and was not on the team's injury report.

"It's always a concern," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "But hopefully it will subside and he'll be ready to go."

Nicks, the talented fourth-year receiver, has had an injury-plagued season. He fractured his right foot in the offseason and missed practice time leading up to the season opener. Early in the year, he started experiencing swelling in his left knee and missed three games from late-September to mid-October. He has played the last seven games despite not being completely healthy.

The injuries have slowed Nicks down this season as he is on pace for the worst year of his career -- just 46 catches for 585 yards and two touchdowns. Dating back to his rookie season in 2009, Nicks has registered at least 790 receiving yards and six touchdowns each year. Nicks caught just five passes for 43 yards in Monday night's 17-16 loss to Washington.

"He's got to get as healthy as we can possibly have him come game day," Giants receiver Victor Cruz said. "If that means taking a day off for some treatment and getting himself physically ready to go then so be it."

Giants safety Kenny Phillips (knee) also missed practice Thursday as he's "sore" according to Coughlin. The safety sprained his MCL earlier this season only to re-aggravate it in his return against Green Bay on Nov. 25. He was classified doubtful for last week's game but ultimately played 20 snaps. Coughlin said that Phillips did not have a setback last week.

"Just something he's dealing with," Coughlin said.

Linebacker Jacquian Williams practiced for the second straight day in a limited capacity and could potentially make his return this weekend against the Saints. Williams has not played since Oct. 14 against San Francisco and the team has missed his sideline-to-sideline speed.