The New York Giants have eagerly looked forward to Victor Cruz’s return, but they must wait a little longer before the receiver returns to the field.
According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, though the 28-year-old wideout said he’s pain-free, Cruz likely won’t be ready for the team’s Week 3 clash against the Washington football team.
Victor Cruz said "It's going to take a lot" of improvement for him to play Thurs. Week 4 still seems more likely.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) September 22, 2015
The Giants are wise to avoid rushing him back onto the field, because 13 games of Cruz at full strength is exponentially better than 10 healthy contests and four questionable outings.
Besides, Cruz’s prolonged absence has been the expectation ever since he didn’t practice leading up to the season opener due to a calf injury.
Then, it was highly unlikely Cruz would be available for last Sunday’s game, and when the UMass product wasn’t available at all in preparation for the matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, there’s little realistic chance his status would change so dramatically before Washington on Thursday.
New York will continue relying on Odell Beckham Jr., while Reuben Randle and Dwayne Harris attempt to complement the budding star until Cruz returns—which is probably in Week 4.
Following Thursday’s tilt, the Giants have 10 days off to get ready for the Buffalo Bills, who present the toughest defense New York will have faced to date. It’s more important to have the standout receiver available for that test, and after one more week on the bench, Cruz should be set to make his 2015 debut.