Reality set in for the Giants yesterday.
Just two days away from facing the Buccaneers, Big Blue was learning to live without free safety Kenny Phillips, who is done for the year with a knee injury. The ballhawk, who picked off two Tony Romo passes last week, won’t be back until 2010.
For now, they’ll turn to a combination of Aaron Rouse, who they acquired on Thursday off waivers from Green Bay, and C.C. Brown to replace Phillips.
Coach Tom Coughlin believes his team is mentally prepared to handle the loss of one of its starters.
“I think it is a mentality,” Coughlin said. “And I think players have to understand it as well. And they do. Our people seem to do a good job. And I think it goes back to leadership again. Now there isn’t any question . . . when you take an outstanding player out of your team, or off your team, there is a void. And that void has to be filled in by everybody else. There are examples of it out there right now.”
Rouse arrived in East Rutherford on Thursday night. He’s taking a crash course in the Giants’ defense in an effort to be ready for tomorrow’s game in Tampa.
“I have to put in a lot of hours with the coach,” Rouse said. “I am a great studier, I learn fast, I learn on the job very quickly, but my main focus is making sure I do what is asked of me and contribute where I can.”
Rouse started for the Packers last week against Cincinnati. A third-round pick in 2007, Rouse struggled on Sunday and the Packers grew tired of waiting for him to develop. Now he finds himself in a new uniform.
“When it happened, of course, I was surprised, but I wasn’t trying to find answers,” Rouse said. “Immediately my focus went forward, to continue to play in the NFL, and the Giants were right there. Now my focus is here and getting the win down in Tampa and continue winning.”
Rouse’s only practice with the team came yesterday, so not much can be expected of him tomorrow. Instead, the onus of picking up the slack left by Phillip’s absence falls more on Brown.
Brown is a former starter with the Texans, who saw a lot of action in the preseason as Phillips’ dealt with his injury.
“We know that he is a physical guy that has been a starter in this league and finds himself in that role again and he is very happy about that,” Coughlin said. “He is glad to have the opportunity.”
Phillips is great at playing in space and roaming the deep half of the field. Coughlin said strong safety Michael Johnson will have to do some of that now, along with Brown.
Coughlin said Phillips is emotional about being shut down for the year.
“He expected to play and wanted to play,” Coughlin said. “And he is playing well. And he is very upset that it wasn’t the direction that this was to go in.”
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DE Justin Tuck (shoulder) and WR Domenik Hixon (knee) are both listed as questionable for tomorrow. Neither player has practiced this week, but Tuck might try to play with a harness over his left shoulder. CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring) and C Adam Koets (ankle) are questionable, too.
WR Mario Manningham (shoulder) is probable, while DT Chris Canty (calf), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), WR Hakeem Nicks (foot), LB Clint Sintim (groin) and RB Danny Ware (elbow) are out.
brian.costello@nypost.com