Phillips set to play in Steelers game
Giants safety Kenny Phillips watches teammates run drills on the first day of training camp in Albany, N.Y. (Aug. 1, 2010) Credit: AP
ALBANY - Kenny Phillips has been cleared to play in tomorrow's preseason game against the Steelers, and Tom Coughlin said the safety will see time on the field.
The Giants have been taking baby steps with Phillips' return from microfracture knee surgery in September. They held him out the first week of training camp on the PUP list and did not play him Monday against the Jets. So what's changed to allow Phillips to play now?
"The normal progress," Coughlin said. "Just the fact that he was out there working and he hadn't suffered any setbacks and the leg is stronger. We wanted to keep doing more, and the doctors agree."
Bulluck also gets to go
Another player coming off knee surgery - although less complicated - is LB Keith Bulluck. Coughlin said the 11-year veteran also will get his first preseason game snaps tomorrow. Bulluck had a torn ACL repaired in December when he was playing for the Titans.
Giant steps
DE Jason Pierre-Paul had the Giants' only sack against the Jets on Monday, but don't ask him how. "I don't know what I did," the first-round draft pick said. Well, keep doing it, whatever it was . . . S Antrel Rolle was taking shotgun and traditional snaps with the quarterbacks and centers early in practice yesterday. He could see time at quarterback in a Wildcat situation Saturday . . . Coughlin said G Chris Snee (knee) is making progress and likely will return to practice next week after the Steelers game . . . The Giants still are gathering information on WR Ramses Barden's lower back pain. "Barden might be a while," Coughlin said . . . Rookie TE Jake Ballard (hamstring) was waived/injured to make room for QB Dominic Randolph on the roster . . . Ben Roethlisberger will play tomorrow, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wouldn't say if he will start.
