The Giants announced today that wide receiver and return specialist Domenik Hixon suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Monday night's victory over the St. Louis Rams. Hixon will undergo surgery in the near future. It is the second major knee injury suffered by Hixon in as many years; he missed the entire 2010 season after tearing the same ACL in a mini-camp practice in June.

Hixon would be the ninth Giants player to go on injured reserve and the fifth with a knee injury. Starting middle linebacker Jonathan Goff, cornerback Terrell Thomas and reserves Clint Sintim and Brian Witherspoon are all sidelined with torn knee ligaments. Sintim, like Hixon, hurt his knee for the second year in a row.

Second round draft choice Marvin Austin (torn pec), cornerback Bruce Johnson (Achilles) and backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels (illness) are also on injured reserve.

Hixon played in the Giants first two games, catching four passes for 50 yards and returning three punts for 31 yards. Ironically, he hurt his knee while making his best play of the young season, when he juggled and then secured the ball for an acrobatic 22-yard touchdown reception from Eli Manning with 21 seconds left in the first half against the Rams.

After halftime, Hixon tested his leg by running several sprints near the Giants bench area. After playing in the team's first series of the second half, he was removed from the game and the Giants announced he had a knee injury. Hixon was examined by team physician Dr. Russell Warren and underwent an MRI yesterday.

Hixon, used as the third or fourth wide receiver, will likely be replaced on offense by a combination of Victor Cruz, newly-signed Brandon Stokley and third-round draft choice Jerrel Jernigan, who was inactive the first two games.

Cornerback Aaron Ross replaced Hixon as the team's punt returner on Monday night and had two returns for 13 yards. Jernigan returned punts in the preseason

*Wide receiver Mario Manningham, who did not play the second half on Monday night after complaining of fogginess at halftime, was examined by team physicians and by independent Neurologist Dr. Teena Shetty yesterday. He also underwent the team's protocol for concussions (including MRI and DTI). He will undergo further examination and testing this today.

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*The other players on the Giants' preliminary injury list are defensive end Osi Umenyiora (knee), cornerback Prince Amukamara (foot) and tight end Travis Beckum (hamstring).

READ: Hixon Responds to injury