New York Giants Optimistic Victor Cruz Will Play This Weekend
The New York Giants are optimistic that Victor Cruz can make his much-anticipated return to the field Saturday against the New York Jets.
The New York Giants have been patiently waiting for wide receiver Victor Cruz to return to the field. He has been sidelined since October 2014, battling numerous injuries that have kept him off the field. The Giants have made it clear that anything they get from Cruz this season is icing on the cake. But, that does not mean they do not want him on the field; they are just tempering their expectations.
No one knows the Cruz that the Giants will be getting. Being 29-years old and almost two years removed from his last game action, there will be rust. The Giants are eager to see what he has left in the tank and are hoping it happens this weekend.
Head coach Ben McAdoo expressed optimism that Cruz will take the field this weekend against the New York Jets. “I would love to see him get his hands on a football and make some plays for us,” McAdoo said.
This week is arguably the most important for Cruz in his career. If he cannot make it through the game without setbacks, there is a real chance he does not make the Giants final roster. The Giants cannot afford to keep a player around that cannot stay healthy, so this game, albeit a preseason one, is extremely important.
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News around Cruz has been consistently negative. The Giants would try and paint a positive picture, but Cruz was never really close to taking the field. Cruz now looks ready to take the field, and it is something that has been many months in the making.
Cruz made it through two practices this week without problem; the last one, Thursday, was in full pads. These are all encouraging signs for Cruz, who is ready to get back on the field after a lengthy time of period away from the game.
“I’m ready,” Cruz said. “Obviously, it has been a long time coming, but I had a good week of practice. Everything feels great, so I’m just excited to put it out there on the game field … for the first time in a long time.”
This will be a huge milestone for Cruz on his comeback trail. While it is just a preseason game and doesn’t count, it means something for Cruz.
"“This one is more than just a game,” Cruz said. “This one is crossing so many hurdles, so many barriers, so many ups and downs I had to face to get to this moment. And now I’m ready to relax and go play football again.“To me this is bigger than just a game, although it’s obviously a preseason game. But for me mentally, emotionally, physically, all of the above, it’s more than just a football game for me.”"
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Getting through a game unscathed is the next hurdle for Cruz to jump. If he is able to get through Saturday’s game without any setbacks, he should cement a spot on the 53-man roster. Cruz will also build more confidence in his knee and calf, something that will be a necessity if he hopes to get anywhere near his old form.