The Giants' wide receiving corps suffered its biggest loss of the season when the team learned that Steve Smith will miss of the remainder of the season with a knee injury that will require surgery.

Smith sustained an articular cartilage injury to his knee when he was tackled from behind in the Vikings game on Monday. The injury was originally believed to be in the hamstring, but an MRI conducted at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Tuesday revealed the knee problem.

The date of the surgery has not yet been determined.

Smith is the fifth wide receiver to be placed on injured reserve, joining Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon.

A 2009 Pro Bowler who set the franchise record for receptions in the season, Smith missed four games with a pectoral injury before returning on Monday against the Vikings. The Giants currently have eight wide receivers on the roster, although Mario Manningham is suffering from a hip flexor injury.

More to come after practice.

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For the third time this season, Alex Hall has signed with with the Giants. The defensive end spent training camp with the team, a portion of the regular season and now appears set to join the team for the stretch run. To make room for Hall, the Giants placed LB Clint Sintim on injured reserve.

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The Giants released DT Joe Joseph from the practice squad and added LB Kenny Ingram.

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The following players are on the pre-practice injury report:

LT Shawn Andrews (back)

WR Mario Manningham (hip flexor)

C Shaun O'Hara (foot)

WR Steve Smith (knee/pectoral)

DE Osi Umenyiora (knee)