Coughlin: Victor Cruz "still has an injury"

It appears that the New York Giants' wait for Victor Cruz is going to drag on for a few more weeks. Head coach Tom Coughlin said Thursday that Cruz' weekly MRI showed this week that "he still has a little bit of an injury there" in the calf he originally hurt in mid-August. He is still not cleared to practice.

There is no timetable for Cruz's return. He hasn't made it through a practice since Aug. 17, however, and no one knows at this point when he might be able to return to practice. It seems unlikely that at this point that Cruz would play until some time after the Giants' Week 11 bye.

If that, indeed, turns out to be the case it would make the Giants' decision to carry Cruz on the 53-man roster rather than place him on short-term IR look like a mistake.

Victor Cruz caught balls off the JUGS machine for about 10 minutes. Here's a snippet of the session. https://t.co/PGgHWMhgx6

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) October 22, 2015

Here are other takeaways from Coughlin's meeting with reporters Thursday morning.

Beckham Not Practicing

Coughlin said Odell Beckham Jr. would not practice Thursday and that his hamstring remains "sore." Coughlin said Beckham's limited practice schedule "may be that way for a while."

On Beckham's lack of second-half targets

We wrote about this topic earlier today, and Coughlin was asked to address it. The coach said that "sometimes" talent can overcome double coverage, and that even with a safety over the top the Giants can work underneath to Beckham. He indicated, though, that the Giants need more from their other pass catchers.

"We have other people that, if the coverage is strictly dealing with 13 people have to be able to come through for us," Coughlin said.

On running back roles

Coughlin said that veterans Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen seem to be handling their roles in the running back rotation, but that second-year man Andre Williams is struggling with limited opportunities. Williams is averaging only 2.8 yards per carry, with 127 yards on 45 rushing attempts.

"I do think quite frankly that Williams needs more carries," Coughlin said. "Under the present system it's something we have to deal with."

Coughlin was referring to the Giants' reliance on three-wide receiver sets, which will generally see Vereen on the field.

Complete Injury Report

The biggest concern about the list below might be the absence Uani 'Unga (neck) from practice. Coughlin indicated Wednesday that Unga's injury wasn't a major concern. Maybe that has changed.

Did Not Practice

CB Prince Amukamara (Out)
LB Jon Beason
WR Odell Beckham
WR Victor Cruz
LB Uani ‘Unga

Limited Practice

DE Robert Ayers
LB Jonathan Casillas
LB Devon Kennard
CB Trumaine McBride
WR Rueben Randle
CB Trevin Wade