Victor Cruz makes long-awaited return to Giants

The battle of the Meadowlands takes place on Saturday night as the New York Giants are “hosted” by the New York Jets for the 48th consecutive preseason.

On October 12, 2014, Cruz suffered a torn patellar tendon in the end zone at Philadelphia.

Two of Cruz’s biggest games and many of his biggest plays have come against the Giants’ crosstown rival.

“I’m ready”, a smiling Cruz said Thursday afternoon at the Giants practice facility. “This one is crossing so many hurdles, so many barriers, so many ups and downs I had to face to get to this moment”.

Tonight’s New York Giants vs New York Jets NFL preseason football game will have a start time schedule of 7:30pm eastern time, and airs on network TV channels in both local markets, as well as being televised in some markets on the NFL Network.

Victor Cruz is making his long-awaited return to game action on Saturday night against the Jets. “I think it takes a little time to trust it and realize that he’s still got it but it seems like he’s moving that way”.

The Giants are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 overall and 4-1 in their last 5 road games. As a UDFA out of UMass back in 2010, Cruz torched the Jets for 145 yards on six catches with 3 TD in the Giants’ 31-16 preseason win over Rex Ryan and crew. It will not be broadcast nationally, but it will be available via streaming on NFL Game Pass, like the rest of the preseason. And now I’m ready to relax and go play football again.

“I want to play well”, Apple said.

According to a WFAN interview (h/t New York Daily News reporter Seth Walder), Giants general manager Jerry Reese isn’t throwing in the towel on Cruz just yet. This is the way my career has gone.

Head coach Ben McAdoo and the Giants have been pacing Cruz’s return so as to avoid any more setbacks, such as what he suffered last summer when he tore his calf muscle. This is the way my professional career has gone.

“Some of that quickness and some of that elusiveness that I felt was definitely out there, ” said Cruz, sounding grateful.

Manning said it was good having Cruz back at practice, adding he looked fast, explosive and healthy. The fact that we are getting points with the better home team makes it a no-brainer for me.