Defensive tackle Chris Canty, who started every game in the Giants' 2011 championship season, will make his 2012 debut in the team's home game Sunday against NFC East rival Washington.

The Giants today activated Canty from the reserve/physically unable to perform list, where he was placed at the start of training camp.

To make room on the roster, the Giants put running back Da'Rel Scott on injured reserve.

Canty, an eight-year veteran and fourth-year Giant, had offseason knee surgery after starting all 20 regular season and postseason games last year at right defensive tackle. Despite a rigorous rehabilitation, he was neither ready to take the field for the opening of training camp, nor for the start of the season.

But he returned to the practice field this week and convinced Tom Coughlin he can play against the Redskins. Coughlin did not say if Canty will start. Rocky Bernard, who started the season's first four games in Canty's place, will miss his third game in a row with a quadriceps injury. Rookie Markus Kuhn has started the last two games.

"He's in outstanding shape, condition-wise," Coughlin said of Canty on Friday. "He hasn't been hit, obviously, but we'll come up with the right formula (for playing time)."

Scott, a second-year pro, has played in the last four games after he was inactive for the first two.  He has six carries for nine yards, all at Carolina on Sept. 20.

On Tuesday, he underwent a right knee debridement and a repair to the meniscus. The procedure was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery by team physician Dr. Russell Warren.