Victor Cruz will return to practice Monday for New York Giants

Victor Cruz will return to practice Monday when the New York Giants get back to work in preparation for next Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets. Cruz, trying to return from a torn patella tendon and a calf injury the past two seasons, has missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury.

“We’re gonna put him back out there and let him work back into it,” coach Ben McAdoo said. “If we have to limit him we’ll limit him. If not he’s gonna go.”

Monday’s practice is expected to be a light “corrections” practice. McAdoo said the Giants would go full speed on Tuesday.

Here is a look at the rest of what we learned from McAdoo on Sunday.

First team offensive line/tight ends

In Sunday’s “Kudos & Wet Willies” we pointed out the poor run-blocking by the Giants line, including the tight ends.

“I think assignments, fundamentals and physicality need to pick up,” McAdoo said. “There are some signs in practice ... it’s gotta show up on game day.

“A lot of the mistakes we’re making, we’re not making in practice.”

McAdoo said no lineup changes were planned, but “we’re going to give guys opportunities to compete. At the same time we’re not going to have any knee-jerk reactions. No one’s panicking here. We’re not going to rush to judgment on anything.”

Dwyane Harris OK

Wide receiver/kick returner Dwyane Harris had an MRI after leaving Saturday’s game with a knee injury. McAdoo said Harris is “sore,” but “checked out fine.” The coach wasn’t sure if Harris would practice on Monday.

Pugh, Apple back to practice

Left guard Justin Pugh missed a couple of practices last week and the preseason game against Buffalo with a sore shoulder. McAdoo said Pugh would “jump back in” Monday. Apple, who missed the entire week with a knee issue, will begin with individual drills and work up from there.

Penalties

McAdoo was concerned by the 10 penalties for 70 yards the Giants accumulated.

“The penalties really put us in bad situations. We had 10 penalties in the ball game, put us behind the chains on offense and gave them some first downs defensively.”

Ryan Nassib’s struggles

Backup quarterback Ryan Nassib completed only two-of-12 passes Saturday. He has completed just 9-of-27 passes (33 percent) with two interceptions and two fumbles in two preseason games.

“I still have confidence in Ryan,” McAdoo said. “I know he can go out there and play at a high level. We need to run the ball better around him, he needs to make some throws and we need to make some plays. Can’t dropping balls out there. And we need to protect him.”

Replacement kicker

After Tom Obarski missed a 28-yard field goal Saturday, there is an assumption the Giants will turn to the waiver wire to find a Week 1 replacement for the suspended Josh Brown. McAdoo said he had not yet discussed the situation with GM Jerry Reese, but “never say never.”

Who is in the middle?

B.J. Goodson, Jasper Brinkley and Kelvin Sheppard all did some good things Saturday. The Giants, though, appear no closer to figuring out who is going to start in that spot.

‘There’s a good competition going on right now,” McAdoo said.

Assessing Bobby Hart

The second-year offensive lineman played the first half at left guard and a portion of the second half at right tackle.

“Bobby got better. He got better playing inside and playing tackle,” McAdoo said. “We need to see more consistency from him, but he’s a guy that stepped up when his number was called.”

Orleans Darkwa’s workload

Running back Orleans Darkwa has played little in the two preseason games. He has carried the ball only twice. Saturday, he played only four snaps and never touched the ball. McAdoo explained that this way:

“Orleans is a guy that has value for us as a back and a special teamer. We wanted to make sure that we are doing our due diligence evaluating the entire roster, so he didn’t get as many snaps yesterday. His work load will have a chance to pick up here shortly,” McAdoo said.