EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Kenny Phillips wasn't back for a full four quarters in his return from a right MCL injury before trainers ran onto field to check his knee after a late play.

Although the Giants safety was concerned for a moment that he had reinjured the knee, he said it didn't take long for that concern to fade.

"I was like, 'Here we go again.' But I got to the sidelines and the doctors took a look at it," Phillips said. "It feels pretty good right now. I didn't want to take that chance to go back out there and miss the next week."

Phillips said keeping him out of the rest of Sunday night's game was just precautionary. The Giants routed the Packers 38-10, and Phillips had five tackles in his first game back after six weeks.

"I felt great, especially to come back with a game like this," Phillips said. "A lot of guys were playing full speed and having a lot of fun. It felt great to be back."

It was a good night for the defense. Phillips allowed the Giants to use some three-safety packages and mix up coverages in their first game after the bye.

"It put us back where we want to be," Phillips said. "We're two games in front of Dallas and I believe Washington, also. We've just got to continue to keep playing like we've been playing and the sky is the limit."

DIEHL LEFT GAME: David Diehl left the second quarter of the Giants-Packers game with what the Giants announced was a burner. The right tackle's return was listed as questionable, and he did not take the field with his team when the second half began.

Diehl has come under scrutiny since his return from an MCL injury. There has been a call for Sean Locklear to take his place on the offensive line, but Giants coaches have backed Diehl. In the second half, Diehl stayed on the bench.

Justin Tuck suffered a stinger in the 2011 preseason and it hampered him all season long.