As the title suggests. I seem to remember him having to participate in the shootout to be able to cycle a card. If I have been playing it wrong, I have been risking his life needlessly! Here is his relevant text:
Philip Swinford
Each time a player reveals a cheatin’ hand and your hand is legal, you may discard a card from your play hand to draw a card.
it’s why cards like tommy harden specify “in tommy’s shootout.” if it didn’t need to specify that it wouldn’t be there basically. phil hooks you up from anywhere.