NY Giants WR Steve Smith Out at Least Two Weeks with Pectoral Injury

The news on New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith isn't good. As New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin explained on Friday, however, things could be much, much worse.

"It's a partial (torn) pec and he just has to rehab, but whatever the basis of it is, he has to go through a process of healing, so I'm not sure exactly how long (he'll be out)," Coughlin explained. "He's going to be out of (this Sunday's) game and it's going to be one of those deals hopefully week to week and we'll see."

Coughlin refused to give any definite timetable for Smith's return, stating "you know, if I give it to you, they say a limited amount of time, but not necessarily right away or this week or next week. I won't know until he starts rehabbing. He hasn't had much swelling, some discomfort, so a lot of it in the beginning will probably be preventative to make sure that there's no further injury and then to strengthen and go forward."

The good news: A full tear would have ended Smith's 2010 NFL season. Coughlin also stated that Smith will not require surgery, which could have sidelined the WR until the playoffs (at least).

The bad news: "Week to week" really means at least two weeks with this sort of injury. This probably means very little against a Cowboys team that's currently the worst in football, not to mention a team with a brand new head coach just five days into the job. Smith likely won't play against the Eagles next Sunday night, and he could realistically be out for an entire month. That game will be played in Philadelphia.

The Giants believed they acquired a future number one WR when they drafted Hakeem Nicks. That's exactly the role Nicks will play against the Cowboys on Sunday.

All quotes via New York Giants Communications Office

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