Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks to Miss Giants-Panthers Game The Giants will be without several key players when they face the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night: wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, running back Ahmad Bradshaw and offensive lineman David Diehl were among five players who did not make the trip to Charlotte, N.C., because of injuries. Nicks's absence is likely to be the costliest for the Giants, who rely on him and Victor Cruz in their passing offense. Nicks is still recovering from off-season foot surgery, and he has said he will probably have to play with some measure of pain all season. Nicks aggravated the injury near the end of the Giants" victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, when a defender landed on his foot while making a tackle. Nicks had 199 yards receiving and scored a touchdown against the Buccaneers. A native of North Carolina - and an acknowledged fan of Panthers receiver Steve Smith - Nicks had been looking forward to playing a meaningful game in his home state for the first time. "We had a preseason game there last year, but I didn't get on the field much," Nicks said this week. This is for real. It was always a dream to be able to play there. So I circled this on the calendar a long time ago. Unfortunately for Nicks, the pain in his foot kept him from practicing in the days leading up to the game. He was initially listed as questionable on the Giants" Wednesday injury report, but he was later ruled out and did not travel, the team said. Bradshaw, who has a history of injury problems in recent years, sustained what Coach Tom Coughlin has described only as a neck problem in Sunday's win. Bradshaw left the game in the first half and did not return, opening the way for the No. 3 running back, Andre Brown, to lead the Giants" rushing attack. Brown is likely to start Thursday night; David Wilson, the nominal backup, has struggled to gain trust from the coaching staff and figures to remain a reserve. Brown will be working with a patchwork offensive line, as Diehl's knee injury, believed to be to his medial collateral ligament, has forced another reshuffling of a unit already in flux. The Giants moved left tackle Sean Locklear to right tackle after Diehl was hurt Sunday, inserting the former starter Will Beatty at left tackle. Beatty had been replaced because of a lingering back problem. It is likely the Giants will at least begin Thursday's game with the same lineup. The other two players who did not travel are receiver Domenik Hixon, who sustained a concussion Sunday, and the rookie defensive end Adewale Ojomo, who has a strained hamstring. Without Nicks and Hixon, the Giants will dress just four receivers: Cruz, Ramses Barden, Jerrel Jernigan and the rookie Rueben Randle. The Giants are expected to get back cornerback Prince Amukamara, who sustained a high ankle sprain during the preseason and has yet to play this season. Linebacker Keith Rivers, who was dealing with a hamstring issue, was listed as probable and is expected to play. PATRIOTS ADD PASS CATCHERS New England signed tight end Kellen Winslow and receiver Deion Branch to add depth to an offense that lost tight end Aaron Hernandez on Sunday to an ankle injury. Winslow was released by Seattle on Sept. The Patriots released Branch, who caught 51 passes last season, in the final roster cutdown but kept his nameplate above his locker and his possessions inside it. RECEIVER IS THREATENED Washington receiver Joshua Morgan received death threats and other venomous message on Twitter this week because of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he drew in a loss to St. Louis. Morgan said the threats were keeping him focused. He said he was not tempted to disable his Twitter account. Still, Coach Mike Shanahan said the team was looking into the matter. MORE CHARGES FOR HURD The former receiver Sam Hurd faces more charges in the drug distribution case against him. An indictment filed late Tuesday charges Hurd with attempting to possess cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. He also faces two counts of committing a felony while on release. MENDENHALL NEARING RETURN Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall practiced and is inching closer to returning from surgery on his right knee. Mendenhall has not played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in last season's finale in Cleveland. He had surgery in January and has seen his workload in practice increase in the last couple of weeks. AROUND THE LEAGUE Bills safety Jairus Byrd missed practice because of a foot injury, and his status for Sunday is uncertain. ... Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said he would make a game-time decision Thursday on the availability of running back Jonathan Stewart and right tackle Byron Bell. ... Although Felix Jones fumbled away the opening kickoff Sunday, Cowboys Coach Jason Garrett said he remained committed to Jones's returning kicks.