Giants safety Kenny Phillips hopes to play in the team's regular-season opener. Phillips is recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee. There was initially some doubt as to whether he'd ever play football again. He told The NFL Network Thursday he believes it's realistic to play in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. "To me, everything is realistic," Phillips said. "As far as being a starter, I don't know if they'll throw me out there the first game. I'm not sure. I do feel like I'll get some type of playing time in that first game. "I look at myself as the starter, and have the mindset they're just working me back slowly. With Deon Grant, we know our roles. I feel that even if I'm not the starter [right away], he can get the job done. And he feels that when I'm ready to come back, he'll let me shine. We'll work something out."