When video of Eli Manning’s throwing session with some of his current and former Giants wide receivers went viral earlier this season, the objective seemed to be to prove the quarterback can still play.

But it sounds like Manning came to the conclusion the only non-active pass catcher in the group is not done yet either.

Former Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks said Manning’s support helped push him to participate in the XFL’s “Summer Showcase” event at Montclair State University on Friday, working out for his old offensive coordinator, XFL New York/New Jersey head coach Kevin Gilbride, and his staff in an attempt to make an unexpected return to professional football.

“Eli was like, ‘Man, you’ve still got a step. Why don’t you see if you can still give it a shot? You’re still young enough,’” Nicks said after the combine-style workout concluded. “All my friends are in my corner still, pushing me to play. They know I love the game of football. It is what it is.”

It won’t be easy, even in a revived spring league that will be looking for any star power and name recognition it can get ahead of its 2020 re-launch. Nicks is 31, has been out of the NFL for three years and was not terribly productive in his last few seasons before exiting the league. But the former first-round pick said he feels great physically - he has struggled with injuries in his career - and just wants to end his career on his terms.

“I just want one last year to go at it and play before I get in my late 30s. I just want one last season, whether it be the NFL or the XFL. I’m not closing any doors," he said. “I just want one last year to play ball. This was the opportunity, so I came and showed out.”

Nicks last played in the NFL in 2015, when he caught seven passes for 54 yards in a six-game reunion stint with the Giants at the end of the Tom Coughlin era following a season with the Colts. He signed with the Saints at the start of training camp in 2016, but was cut two weeks later.

Nicks said he “wasn’t where I needed to be” physically in New Orleans, and he had knee surgery to “clean up” his MCL and PCL following his release. Nicks then took that season to rehab and has been training the last two seasons, with his work ramping out after the Super Bowl in February in order to make his comeback push. When the XFL offered a showcase invitation to his agent, Nicks said he jumped at the opportunity.

“It brought back some good memories. He was a great player for us for a long time, and more importantly he’s an unbelievable kid. He’s a great person. It was good to see him,” Gilbride said. “I was anxious to see how well he’d run. Physically, he looks good. He looks like he’s been watching what he’s eating. That’s what I was afraid of, that he’d look a little fleshly, a little heavy, but he doesn’t. You know he’s going to catch the ball. He’s never been a speed demon.”

Nicks said he has not worked out for an NFL team since he left the Saints, but he is hopeful the phone will ring soon. If not, he made it clear he would sign with the XFL if offered. Nicks and every other prospective XFL player will be put in a draft pool, with a draft expected to be held this fall after the NFL’s final roster cuts in the preseason.

“Whatever comes my way, I’m willing to accept it. I’m willing to step up to the challenge. I’m a young 31, two years sitting down but staying in the game mentality," Nicks said. "I’m ready and eager to get back on some football field and do what I need to do.”

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.