New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is a special talent. You don't rack up back-to-back 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons by being a nobody. When the Giants drafted Odell Beckham Jr. in the first round of this year's draft, they thought their wide receiving corps would be set for years to come. Unfortunately, their hopes of dual-headed WR attack took a major hit as Cruz tore his patella tendon in his right knee back in October.
The estimated recovery time for such an injury is typically nine months, but the Giants aren't sure if they'll ever get the real Cruz back.
"You've got to prepare as if, 'What if Victor Cruz doesn't come back," general manager Jerry Reese said. "If you are a personnel guy, or a general manager, that is always in the back of your head. What if this guy doesn't come back and be the player that we think he is?"
The Giants have seen injuries derail young and promising careers before. Former first-round pick David Wilson was forced to retire in 2013 after just 21 NFL games due to a neck injury. It's understandable that Reese would remain cautious after such a blow.
Ruptures of the patellar tendon are relatively rare in the NFL. Only 24 such injuries have been identified in the NFL from 1994 through 2004. Of those 24 players, 19 returned to participate in at least one NFL game.
More recent examples include safety Jim Leonhard, running back Ryan Williams and safety Nate Allen. Leonhard is currently backing up Donte Whitner in Cleveland. Williams, a former second-round pick, was released by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year, and is currently on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. Allen has never been the same since the injury and will likely not be re-signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's scary to think about Cruz, just 28, never returning to his Pro Bowl-caliber form. But it is an unfortunate reality that Reese and the Giants seem to be acknowledging.
