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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn nearly ruptured his ear drum Sunday after New York's victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The mishap occurred when a reporter bumped into Blackburn in a crowded postgame locker room when when he was cleaning his ear with a cotton swab. Blackburn dropped to the floor and said he lost hearing in the ear which then started to bleed.

Doctors expect his hearing to return slowly.

In other Giants injury news, New York signed receiver and return specialist Domenik Hixon and waived receiver Anthony Mix on Wednesday.

Hixon was waived by the Denver Broncos on Tuesday after playing in their first four games. He was the only player to return a kickoff and punt for the Broncos this season, averaging 22.8 yards on 12 kickoff returns and 4.6 yards on seven punt returns. He also had two special teams tackles, but did not catch a pass.

Hixon is the player that Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett tried to tackle on a kickoff return in the season opener.

Everett suffered a life-threatening spinal-cord injury on the play when he ducked his head and his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and the side of the helmet. Everett has since shown signs of a strong recovery.

Mix spent the 2006 season on the Giants' practice squad. He made the team in training camp and played in the first four games, making three catches.