BOSTON — Glen Davis declared last night that he would return to Celtics practice Dec. 1.

After that, it will be up to Boston coach Doc Rivers to decide when Davis is ready to see real game action.

“I’m like Wolverine,” Davis said. “I [recover] fast. I’ll be back in a month. I’ll be back Dec. 1.”

Davis broke his right thumb in the wee hours on Oct. 26 in a fight with childhood friend Shawn Bridgewater.

Because he was depressed after the incident, Davis said the he didn’t do much physical activity right after the incident, and he gained some weight, but didn’t say how much. Davis recently began working out again — running, exercising on the Stairmaster, and doing shooting, passing, and dribbling drills with his left hand — and he has dropped five pounds. He said he weighed 290 the last time he stepped on the scales four days ago, but that is more than he weighed when he began training camp in what he says was the best shape of his life.

Davis said it has been difficult to dress himself and eat with a cast on his right hand, but what has been even tougher for him is watching the Celtics win without him.

“It sucks,” Davis said of not playing, adding that he wanted back in the trenches with his teammates.

He said he has learned a lot by studying the game from the sidelines and studying videotapes, and he hopes that will translate into improved play once he returns.

“I just want to be out there, but it is helping me a lot just by watching them because you understand the game more [by studying it],” said Davis, who re-signed with the Celtics during summer.

Shelden Williams (7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds) has been very efficient filling in for Davis, but Davis doesn’t believe his job with the second unit is in jeopardy.

“I’m not worried about the rotation,” Davis said. “I’m just going to be ready when my team needs me. I just have to be in shape and be ready. As long as I’m in shape and ready, I’ll be OK.”

As for the ESPN report that says that Davis wants to try out for the NFL, he said that it has always been his childhood dream to play in the NFL and NBA but he won’t pursue an NFL career when his NBA playing days are over.

Gentry praises Perkins

Celtics center Kendrick Perkins received four votes for the NBA All-Defensive teams last year.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said he won’t be surprised if Perkins receives a lot more votes this year.

“He gives them that physical presence to be able to battle Dwight Howard and some of the bigger centers in the league,” Gentry said. “With him, he’s gotten so much better in his skills for the game. When you think about it, he’s such a young player; I think he’s still got a tremendous upside. He doesn’t get enough of the credit for what they do because without him, they wouldn’t be [as physical].”

Rivers said he was glad that Perkins was finally getting the credit he deserved.

Tonight in Jersey

The Celtics visit the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.

The Celtics won the season series, 2-0, against the Nets last year, with Paul Pierce averaging 19.0 points per game.

Devin Harris (groin) led New Jersey with a 16.3-points-per-game average, but he won’t be in the lineup Satudrday for the Nets.