Phillips can participate in workouts Monday

ALBANY - Kenny Phillips walked out of the team cafeteria Friday and didn't give his usual shrug when asked when he'll be able to practice. This time he gave a big smile and a wink.

Tom Coughlin said the safety will be taken off the physically-unable-to-perform list and be available to participate in workouts Monday. The coach had said he expected Phillips to be on PUP for about a week while doctors monitored his progress, and that's almost exactly how long it took.

Phillips has not played since the Week 2 game against the Cowboys last September. After that game, he had surgery to relieve a patellofemoral arthritic condition in his left knee. He's been rehabbing it since then and had hoped to be ready for the start of training camp, but the team's medical staff wanted to hold him back a little while longer.

It's not yet clear how much Phillips will be able to do - or even be allowed to do - once he gets on the field. The Giants will go extra slowly with him. It'll be up to Phillips to obey those yield signs.

"I just want to play football," he said. "It's been so long since I've played, I just want to get back out there."

Giant steps

With starting LG Rich Seubert out, Guy Whimper took his place and the team experimented with other combinations that included rookie Mitch Petrus . . . WR Adam Jennings was waived and replaced by Brooklyn product Nyan Boateng, who made a nice catch in his first practice . . . OL Reuben Riley was carted off with an MCL injury late in practice . . . Gorgeous weather plus autograph day equaled a packed house. The Giants estimate that 4,150 fans showed up for the workout.