Chad Pennington passed an important test yesterday on his long, improbable road back from a second operation on his throwing shoulder. Two days shy of 34 weeks after the operation, Pennington participated in team drills for the first time. At the 34-week mark after the first operation on his right shoulder in February 2005, Pennington already had played three regular-season games and was out for the year with another injury. Pennington participated in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, taking snaps in live competition for the first time since his right shoulder was repaired for the second time in eight months on Oct. 6. It is not known how Pennington fared in the workouts; reporters are not permitted to watch any portion of the voluntary passing camp at Hofstra this week. "I was pleased with the turnout for our organized team activity and excited about the group's energy level and focus both in the .classroom and on the field," coach Eric Mangini said in a statement. "Our entire team participated."