During his rookie year, Dru Phillips established himself as the Giants’ main nickel cornerback. He intercepted a pass, participated in 68 percent of the defensive snaps, sacked Jayden Daniels, and notched up seven tackles for loss. 

All the while he was “kind of blind.” 

This offseason, Phillips opted for LASIK surgery to simplify his life since he dislikes wearing contact lenses. Post-procedure, which only took about 15 minutes, he’s noticed better ball tracking and an increased ability to “go attack more” during training camp. 

“Seeing the ball in the air was a significant issue for me,” Phillips remarked after Thursday’s Giants practice. “This has been a long-standing problem, but especially in this camp, I can see the ball much better, benefiting me both here and in daily activities, such as driving. It makes everything much easier.” 

He posted about the surgery at Teaneck, N.J.-based Cornea & Laser Eye Institute in May, writing on X that it was “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made” and adding a photo of himself with Dr. Steven Greenstein holding a Giants football.

Phillips said he spoke with the “people upstairs” about his eyesight before the Giants drafted him in the third round, adding that they were the only team in the predraft process who asked, “You can’t see?” 

It was never mentioned during his collegiate seasons at Kentucky, and Phillips “was just blind” at the time, he said with a laugh. 

“It’s one of those things I’m glad that [the Giants] pointed out because I probably still wouldn’t have had it if no one said anything,” Phillips said, “but it helped me out on an everyday basis.” 

During a Giants training camp defined by change (with newcomers in Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland) and potential change (a Deonte Banks-Cor’Dale Flott competition for the second cornerback spot), Phillips has been a constant in the secondary.

He’s no longer “playing with my head on fire” like he was at this time last year and can sense what’ll happen now instead of guessing. 

Phillips knows that he was part of the defense’s communication issue in 2024 and has tried to help fix that through experience — and, perhaps, being able to see the ball better will lead to tangible improvements, too. 

“You’re part defensive back and, at times, part linebacker,” coach Brian Daboll said of nickel cornerbacks. “He’s tough, but I would say his communication and his process of how he does things — and he’s taken a good step, and we need him to.”