New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz hasn't played in a game since October 2014 when he tore his patellar tendon, and he went on to miss the entire 2015 season with a reoccurring calf injury.
Cruz has since come out and said that he had a rare injury last season in a torn fascia in his left calf that wouldn't heal properly, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. "Obviously, (I'm) still rehabbing, still getting strength back in the calf, but I feel good," Cruz said. "There is no more pain, there are no more setbacks or anything like that. Now we're just working on getting the strength back so I can be able to run and cut and all those good things."
The Giants wide receiver is expected to make $8 million next season, which will count $9.9 million against the salary cap. The Giants front office has yet to contact the receiver over his contract, but Cruz sounds as though he is willing to rework his contract if that will keep him in New York, according to Tom Rock of Newsday.
"I don't care about that stuff," Cruz said. "I realize the way I came into this game was on a humble opportunity, and wherever this goes, I just want to play. It's been two years of not playing. I just want to go out there and play, and whatever happens after that happens. I just want to play. Whatever it takes, whether it's with the Giants or anyone else. Obviously, the Giants are home, they're family. But I just want to paly football, man."
The Giants wide receiver made his career in New York with quarterback Eli Manning and is likely looking forward to getting back on the field with their explosive offense. The Giants finished the 2015 regular season as the sixth highest scoring team in the league, and New York fans have anxiously been waiting to see both wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Cruz on the field together for a full season. The last full 16-game season Cruz completed was in 2012, when he recorded 86 receptions for 1,092 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
Giants new head coach Ben McAdoo has relied on a short passing game to get the ball moving on offense, and the addition of a healthy Cruz in 2016 could have a major impact on an already dangerous offense.
