It didn't matter.

Hixon found out during warmups that he'd be returning kickoffs, and very early on in yesterday's game against the Arizona Cardinals that he'd be counted on as a key figure in the Giants' pass offense.

But when you're a role player hoping to become more than that for the defending Super Bowl champions, short notice isn't an issue.

Things changed quickly when starting running back Brandon Jacobs was still not ready to play because of a knee injury suffered in last week's victory against the Ravens. That moved third-string running back Ahmad Bradshaw up the depth chart where he figured to be rushing the ball more.

Bradshaw is the usual return man, but, to give him a little break, Hixon was asked to help return some kicks, too.

And with main target Plaxico Burress taking himself out of the game after feeling too much pain in his sore hamstring on a deep post route in the first quarter, Hixon became a primary option for quarterback Eli Manning.

The switches worked out exceptionally well for the Giants and for Hixon, who finished with 201 yards on returns and caught six passes for 57 yards in the 37-29 victory.

It started with his work on special teams. Hixon's 83-yard return led to a field goal and a 10-9 Giants lead with 6:51 left in the second quarter, but the Cardinals had not only poor coverage to blame for the big gain. They had originally penned in Hixon for a 22-yard return, but they were offsides and had to kickoff again.

"They were tired, but we were, too," Hixon said. "We said, 'Let's go ahead and try to break this one.' Ten guys up field did a heck of a job. I didn't get tackled until the last guy got me. I didn't finish it off."

Arizona again took the lead later in the second quarter, but Hixon went 68 yards with his next kickoff return - and likely would have scored if not for Jerheme Urban's shoestring tackle at the Cardinals' 32.

"It was my bad," Hixon said. "He locked me down. That hurts."

No problem.

It led to a Manning scoring strike to Amani Toomer and a 17-12 lead with 1:08 left in the half.

It was as if Hixon had been returning kickoffs all season, even though his three returns - for 180 yards - were his first in 2008. (He has been the Giants' primary punt returner, and had two returns for 21 yards yesterday.)

Even though the kick returns provided the biggest sparks, Hixon's work at wide receiver made up for Burress' absence.

"I didn't expect it to be 100 percent," Burress said of a hamstring that kept him out of practice leading to the game. "I didn't feel good about running on it, and I told the coach I couldn't go."

But Burress was happy to see Hixon fill in well.

"He's a tremendous talent," Burress said. "He's been playing well all year. We just need to find a way to get him the ball more."