The Giants dodged a serious injury bullet with safety Kenny Phillips, who has been diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee coming out of the 19-17 loss to the Eagles.

Coach Tom Coughlin on Monday said Phillips is “week to week’’ with the injury but of course that is not the case. A sprained MCL takes at least three or four weeks to heal, putting Phillips on the shelf for Sunday’s game against the Browns and very likely several more games after that.

Right tackle David Diehl has a sprained MCL and has already missed two games. Diehl might be ready to return this week to some aspects of practice but comparing him to Phillips is not very significant.

“Different positions,’’ Coughlin said.

Stevie Brown, a three-year veteran in his first year with the Giants, replaced Phillips against the Eagles and it looks as if he will be promoted into a full-time starting role. Brown has previously played for the Raiders and Colts but has one NFL start.

Coughlin said center David Baas has a very swollen right hand, which explains why he dribbled one shotgun snap back to Eli Manning. As for receiver Hakeem Nicks, Coughlin had no encouraging news about the return of the star receiver. Asked if Nicks has made any progress, Coughlin said “Not that I know of.’’ Asked how much concern he has about this, Coughlin said “How much concern can I show you?’’

Nicks has missed the last two games. He sat out against the Panthers because his right foot was still sore four days after playing and dominating the Buccaneers. He sat out the game in Philadelphia after his left knee swelled up following Thursday’s practice.