EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- After missing most of the 2009 season, safety Kenny Phillips is back in the New York Giants' starting lineup.
Phillips, who underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee last September, worked with the Giants' first team Wednesday in preparation for Sunday's season opener against the Carolina Panthers.
"This has been a long, long, long, long offseason for me," Phillips said. "It's like I had two because of the surgery. I missed it. I really did. They say you don't know how much you missed it until it's gone. Not to be out there was an eye opener. I am going to go out there and have fun and not take it for granted."
Phillips' first practice since the surgery was Aug. 9. He has made great strides in recent weeks after he was allowed to just take baby steps in the early part of training camp.
"For them to have me already penciled as a starter, I must be doing something right," Phillips said. "So I have to go out there and continue getting reps and just work on my technique."
Phillips, 23, always had returning to the starting lineup as his primary goal, but he was frustrated at times when the coaching staff limited his workload. He sat out the first preseason game, then played 12 snaps in the second, more than 20 during in the third and slightly more in the preseason finale against the New England Patriots.
"I felt like I had 80 today, so we are getting ready for it," Phillips said.
His recovery also means that veteran Deon Grant, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason, has lost his starting job.
Grant was surprised and disappointed.
"When they came and told Kenny to go with the first group, I was definitely surprised, because I know inside my mind -- and they know it -- I'm not a backup safety," Grant said. "That might be the position I might have to play if that's the case, but I'm not no backup safety. But I am going to support Kenny because Kenny is like a little brother to me, and he has skills."
Grant isn't happy.
"Like I told the rest of the guys, I am not going to sit up here like it's peaches and cream," he said. "It might take me a minute to adjust to that."
There is a chance the Giants might rotate Phillips and Grant.
"They pay me to come here and be a leader and show what I have to show on that football field, in that meeting room and off the field, and that's what I indeed did," Grant said.
Phillips said Grant helped him out at practice Wednesday.
"We're still the best of friends," Phillips said.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
