Tom Coughlin said wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will have to play through pain and will not be 100 percent for the remainder of the season.

Nicks underwent X-rays after Sunday's victory and he said everything came out clean. He declined to say what he had an X-ray on, but Nicks has been battling a knee issue and pain in his surgically repaired foot all season long.

"He is going to continue with the same capacity that he has been in," Coughlin said. "I wish he would have an opportunity to play after no longer having any issues, but that is not going to be the case this year."

Nicks was feeling better coming off rest during the bye week in late November. But the knee issue hasn't gone away. Coughlin did see some burst in Nicks' step on Sunday night against New Orleans. Nicks had four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, including a 25-yard reception.

Coughlin said Nicks will be continuously monitored on a weekly basis.

"He had some plays in the game last night that showed real quickness, very similar to what we are used to," Coughlin said. "It's not there all the time. So he does have these issues that are going to be with him throughout the course of the year."