Wilkinson’s stellar play lands him on first-team ‘D’

ALBANY — Gerris Wilkinson spent most of the first two weeks of training camp cloaked in the anonymity of third-team reps. But when he stepped on the field Monday against the Jets, he was able to make some plays.

“As a linebacker, you can really only do so much in practice,” he said. “You’re not tackling. But once you step on the field you get to hit somebody in another jersey, that’s when people notice you.”

The Giants noticed. And yesterday Wilkinson was lining up with the first defensive unit.

“It was earned by the way he played the other night,” Tom Coughlin said. “He had some physical tackles. He did well on special teams. He did well in the open-field tackling a back out of the backfield. You want to be able to encourage the guys who do that.”

Moss not threatened

WR Victor Cruz became an instant star with three touchdown catches on Monday night and seemingly locked up a place on the roster. That probably means veteran Sinorice Moss will be a former Giant by the time the season starts. But Moss isn’t looking at it that way. “It’s pretty much the same thing and I just take the same approach to it,” said Moss, who returned to practice after missing a week with a groin injury. “I don’t look at it as numbers. I just go out there, perform and take care of the things I need to take care of.”

Giant steps

WR Steve Smith, TE Kevin Boss, CB Corey Webster, TE Travis Beckum, WR Tim Brown and TE Scott Chandler all returned to practice . . . WR Ramses Barden did not practice with lower back pain. He said the medical staff is in “information-gathering mode” regarding the nature of the injury . . . LB Chase Blackburn (sprained MCL) hopes to be back for the season opener.