Donnell may not return this season

Larry Donnell’s season appears to be in jeopardy. The Giants’ starting tight end, who this week will miss a third straight game as he struggles with a neck injury that isn’t going away, admitted as much on Friday.

“It’s going to be a while before I’m able to play,” said Donnell, who has 29 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns this season. “It’s not an arm, it’s not a foot, it’s my neck. So I’m going to take all the time that is needed to make sure it’s right before I go back out there.”

The 27yearold Donnell, who undergoes a weekly test on his neck, said it’s a “possibility” he could be done for the rest of the season, but also noted “there’s a chance I could play.” He is able to run and lift weights as he waits.

Donnell suffered the injury in a loss to the Saints on Nov. 1 while attempting to make a diving catch.

“There’s concern or else he’d be able to play,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “The fact is he’s not where they want him to be when they would give him the green light, so he’s not ready to go.

Will Tye has started at tight end in Donnell’s place the last two games, with Jerome Cunningham serving as the backup.

The Giants, at least publicly, have yet to decide if Hakeem

Nicks will play Sunday against the Redskins, but the veteran wide receiver, signed last week, believes he’s up to it.

“I prepared myself to be ready to play,” said Nicks, who caught 38 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns last year for the Colts, but was unemployed for the first 10 weeks of this season after he was cut late in the summer by the Titans. “I feel ready.”

Coughlin wasn’t ready to declare that Nicks will be active on Sunday, telling reporters “we’ll see,” but did say the veteran had a good week of practice.

Linebacker Mark Herzlich (quad) and guard Justin Pugh (concussion) are both out, and center Weston Richburg (high ankle sprain) is doubtful, pushing center

Dallas Reynolds and guard John Jerry into starting roles. Coughlin said the Giants could make a move for Sunday’s game, and that would likely be activating recently signed center Shane McDermott from the practice squad, but they would need to open up a roster spot by placing someone on injured reserve.