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Could Victor Cruz actually participate in team drills during the mandatory minicamp the New York Giants will hold this week? Maybe. “I think so, I hope so,” Cruz told NJ Advance Media.
"I'm feeling good. I ran some routes this past Friday, some full speed routes and everything went well," Cruz said Saturday. "We'll see what happens next week. They might throw me out there with the wolves a little bit so we'll see how it goes.”
Cruz, 29, has not played since suffering a torn patellar tendon midway through the 2014 season. He suffered a calf injury during training camp last season, and that eventually required surgery.
So far this spring, all we have seen Cruz do is run straight ahead, generally at less than full speed. Coach Ben McAdoo has said repeatedly that the target for Cruz to practice is training camp. It would then be a pleasant surprise if the Giants clear Cruz to at least run some routes with teammates during individual drills during the three-day minicamp.
Is this just Cruz being overly optimistic, as athletes are often wont to be about injury timetables? Perhaps. Whether or not Cruz practices during minicamp it has to be a good sign for him and the Giants that the idea is even under consideration.
"I've been patient. I've been chomping at the bit every day at practice watching those guys work, but I'm excited to get back out there a little bit more," Cruz said. "But the spring has been tough just watching everybody and watching them compete out there and being held back a little bit. So we'll see how it goes."
Understanding that everyone is curious to see Cruz catch some passes, let me ask a question. Would you be happy to see Cruz run at least a handful of routes during individual drills during minicamp, or at this point would you prefer to see the Giants hold him back until training camp?