Giants' Manning on sideline with stitches removed

Eli Manning was not wearing a uniform for Saturday night's preseason game against the Steelers. He wasn't wearing the 12 stitches he needed less than a week ago, either.

The Giants' quarterback had those stitches removed Friday, Tom Coughlin said, and he is expected to be able to wear his helmet and be back on the practice field this week.

"I wasn't kidding, I was serious," Coughlin said. "He does heal fast."

Manning suffered a three-inch gash to his head Monday when his helmet flew off after a hit from behind and he crashed crown-first into another defensive player. The wound bled profusely and required immediate stitches. Manning was checked and double-checked for signs of a concussion, but all of those came back negative. The only thing keeping him out of this week of practices and this game was his inability to slide a helmet over the stitches, which are just above his hairline.

Now he no longer has that barrier.

"The healing process is well under way," Coughlin said.

Jacobs out with stiff neck

Brandon Jacobs sat out the game with a stiff neck, but neither Coughlin nor general manager Jerry Reese said there was much concern about the injury. That wasn't always the case; the running back was sent for an MRI on Friday night to see if there was any damage.

"This came out of nowhere," Coughlin said. "He had a stiff neck last night, they sent him to get an MRI and evidently there was no progress today."

Coughlin said he was told that Jacobs injured himself doing shrugs in the weight room.

Phillips and Bulluck back

As promised by Coughlin, S Kenny Phillips and LB Keith Bulluck both saw time on the field. And as promised, they were off the field before you could blink.

The two players, both of whom are coming off knee surgery - Phillips' was more severe; he had been out since Week 2 of last season - trotted out for their first snaps of the preseason at the start of the second quarter. They stayed on the field with other starters for six plays and then came off.

"It felt great just being back out there," Bulluck said. "I guess you could say I am officially a New York Giant.''

Phillips said he felt "normal" being back on the field. "It's like riding a bicycle, you really never forget how to do it," he said. "I didn't get a chance to make too many plays, but in the little time I was out there, everything felt great.''

Nicks leaves early

Most preseason games are devoid of action, but Hakeem Nicks and Ike Taylor made sure that this one had its fireworks early. The two players got into a punching fight on the fourth offensive play of the game, leading to offsetting penalties and ejections for both.

"I've never been ejected from a game in my life until tonight," Nicks said after being sent to the locker room. "I was blocking downfield and trying to finish my block, and the next thing I knew, he was throwing punches, so I tried to defend myself."

It did appear that Taylor threw the first punch, but Nicks, one of the most mild-mannered Giants, certainly tossed his share of them. It was yet another loss of a starter for the offense, which already was without two starting guards, the first two quarterbacks and the starting running back.

"I'm disappointed because I let my coaches and teammates down," Nicks said. "These preseason games are important because we've got to get our work in as an offense."

Giant steps

RB D.J. Ware left the game with a concussion when he took Dave Tollefson's shoulder to the side of his head on punt coverage late in the first quarter. Ware missed time late last season with a serious concussion . . . S Sha'reff Rashad also left the game with a concussion . . . No, they weren't booing. Fans were actually heard calling "Cruuuuuz!" for Paterson (N.J.) product Victor Cruz when he came onto the field . . . FB Jerome Johnson was scratched with a shoulder injury but said he'll be back next week . . . Aaron Ross had a 45-yard punt return in the second quarter . . . WR Ramses Barden (back) said the trainers told him that he does not have a chronic injury and that he'll need rest and treatment. "Other than that, it's just time," he said. "Hopefully, it won't be too much time. Hopefully, I get to be in a uniform this week. We'll see."