The salsa dance may be no more. At least, according to one former NFL wide receiver, that's a very distinct possibility at this point. Nate Burleson, a former wideout for the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns, believes that the injury from which New York Giants star pass-catcher Victor Cruz is attempting to work back could ultimately put Cruz's Giant, and NFL, career in danger.
In 2008, Burleson suffered a significant right knee injury while with the Seahawks. He was placed on injured reserve after one game. The next season, as he attempted to work his way back just as Cruz is now doing, Burleson tore his left hamstring.
Cruz suffered his injury, a right patella rupture, last Oct. during a game against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles. He's been rehabbing all offseason, but made his first real attempt at returning to the Giant lineup this week. Unfortunately, his comeback was immediately derailed by a left hamstring injury during New York's Wednesday practice. The team announced on Thursday that Cruz would not suit up against the Buffalo Bills and there was no current timetable for his return. Per Burleson, pointing to his own career arc, this could spell a very negative outcome for the remainder of not just Cruz's 2015 season, but potentially his NFL life.
"It's all about over-compensating for injuries," said Burleson. "And at this point, for what we've known him to do, all these explosive plays that we're seeing right here, he can't do those things right now."
While it's early to suggest that Cruz's injury could threaten his career, there does seem to be some hard-earned wisdom behind Burleson's words. Cruz, without the explosive athleticism that was his trademark, would only be a shell of his former self. Due to his middling size, not being able to get in and out of breaks with elite quickness or leg out trailing corners for deep balls would significantly hamper his impact in the passing game.
At 28, Cruz was likely entering the early portion of the latter days of his NFL career even before the injury. As a slot receiver, the wear and tear on his body is greater than that of an outside receiver. Considering his work ethic, hands and strong route-running, it's possible that Cruz could remake himself into a different type of possession receiver in the twilight of his professional life.
But with his 29th birthday rapidly approaching and taking into account the severity of his injury, a guy whose production has steadily declined each season since a breakout 2011 NFL season may already be facing something of a crossroads in his football career.
