Once upon a time, Hakeem Nicks was considered a dominant receiver and one of Eli Manning’s most trusted targets, but injuries ended his New York Giants career early and, subsequently, his career.

Nick last appeared in the NFL in 2015 as a member of the Giants — his second stint with the team — but was clearly a shell of his former self, recording just seven receptions for 54 yards over a six-game span.

But Nicks never officially retired, and now we know why.

Earlier this week, Nicks was spotted running routes for Manning alongside Sterling Shepard, Corey Coleman and Saquon Barkley, and as it turns out, it wasn’t just for his health.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Nicks has been working with Manning all offseason as he attempts to work his way back into the league.

The Hakeem in this video is former #Giants first-round pick Hakeem Nicks. He has been running routes for Eli Manning as he tries to get back into the league. https://t.co/QJ0vDR4bqT — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 22, 2019

At 31 years old, Nicks is facing a tough uphill battle, but with his injuries now apparently behind him, he could benefit from fresh legs and years away from the wear and tear on his body.

In both 2010 and 2011, Nicks eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and was a key component on the team’s Super Bowl XLVI championship team. He showed brief flashes of a return to glory in 2013, but the Giants ultimately decided to let him walk.

Nicks spent a year with the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 before briefly returning to the Giants in 2015.

In 92 career games, Nicks hauled in 356 receptions for 5,081 yards and 31 touchdowns.