The New York Giants have an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position these days thanks to the rapid development of last year's first-round pick Odell Beckham, Jr. the continuing efforts of Mr. Salsa, Victor Cruz, and not to mention the underrated but vital addition of Dwayne Harris this offseason and the nothing-to-scoff-at production of Rueben Randle.
Unfortunately for Cruz and the Giants, a patellar injury in October 2014 robbed him of the final 10 games last season and removed an important weapon for quarterback Eli Manning from the field.
Luckily for Manning and Giants fans, Cruz seems to be inching ever close to a triumphant return.
"I'm about 80 percent there. I think it's just a matter of continuing to build the strength for the last leg of it," Cruz told Paul Schwartz of The New York Post after the Giants' first OTA practice. "I've been running some routes for about two weeks now, and there's been no pain, no swelling or anything like that, which are all good signs."
While Beckham and the rest of the Giants receivers ran through drills, Cruz, per Schwartz, worked on his own nearby, running routes and doing everything his surgically repaired knee will currently allow him to do.
"Yeah, I am itching," Cruz said. "I can't lie. I am itching. I am running routes and feeling good, but I know there is still a process, and I am still a little ways away in terms of strength-wise and things like that. It feels good and watching those guys run routes and catch balls. I am definitely itching to get back out there."
In the six games he appeared in last year, Cruz nabbed 23 receptions for 337 yards and just one touchdown - not great numbers, but the entire New York offense seemed to still be getting their feet under then in new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's system.
Considering the career-year Manning wound up posting under McAdoo and the otherworldly work done by Beckham in his first season, a healthy Cruz should be able to make a major impact for the Giants this season.
