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The New York Giants Have Victor Cruz On A “Pitch Count”… Again

By Christopher Schwarz

Aug 3, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) reacts prior to the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Buffalo Bills at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 3, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) reacts prior to the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Buffalo Bills at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants have a few areas of concern as OTAs started on Monday. Plenty attention was paid to the defense this offseason, and rightly so, but the 8th ranked passing offense also has its issues as well.

The right side of the line looks to be a battle in training camp unless Jerry Reese decides what he has on the roster will suffice for the regular season. But possibly the biggest x-factor is the future of once-superstar Victor Cruz.

Cruz hasn’t played since October 2014, but the Giants are counting on him once again to be the starting wide receiver opposite Odell Beckham Jr.. The two could make up one of the best WR tandems in the NFL, yet they’ve only been on the field together for a grand total of six quarters.

Well, Cruz was out on the field at OTAs on Monday, but he didn’t participate in any team drills. He was off to the side of the field and that’s where he will stay for the rest of the OTAs and the mandatory three-day minicamp in mid-June.

Cruz said he was “100 percent healthy” last month, but McAdoo doesn’t want to take any chances. “He’s working to get back for training camp,” Giants coach Ben McAdoo said on Monday. “Small steps.”

Cruz said in April, “This offseason program is using the OTA days as building blocks… By training camp, I should be pretty much ready to go.” Training camp begins July 30, but we won’t know if the Cruz/Beckham duo will be ready for the regular season until then.

For those who are screaming for the Giants second-round draft pick Sterling Shepard to step right in and take Cruz’s place during OTAs, he was on the second team. While Shepard is being brought along slowly catching passes from Ryan Nassib, Geremy Davis was working with the first team on the outside and Dwayne Harris was in the slot.

So there’s a plan in place for Cruz, just like last season. If you remember, Cruz was on the same type of “pitch count” last summer before eventually re-injuring his left calf and missing the entire season.

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