The NY Giants will not have Victor Cruz on the field for their first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday and while he will make the trip for the game, he will not practice or play and this comes as fellow wideout Odell Beckham has dealt with a hamstring injury this summer, while cornerback Prince Amukamara will be out with a groin injury.
The Giants are looking to bounce back and make the playoffs this season and Cruz's health could be a big factor in that happening. Last season Cruz suffered a serious knee injury and that allowed Odell Beckham to come in and breakout, but the two stars only were on the field for 60 snaps together last season. The Giants are hoping for more than that and while it should happen soon, it won't be on Friday night in the preseason.
According to NJ.com, Jordan Raanan reports that Cruz will not practice and will not play on Friday against the Bengals. Cruz was quoted saying that he will not be going "anything" against the Bengals "throughout practice," but that he will travel with the team. The report also says that Amukamara will not be travelling with the Giants and that he has been held out of practice after injuring his groin. The Giants secondary has been banged up this year in training camp along with the offensive line and the team is hoping that the injury to Amukamara is not one that will continue to nag him.
Amukamara is coming in as the top cornerback for the team and losing him again could be a real tough thing to overcome in the secondary on defense. Amukamara is coming into an important season in his career, as he is a free agent in 2016 and has only been able to stay healthy for 16 games just once in four seasons. Last year Amukamara played in eight games and in his career he has six interceptions. According to Dan Graziano at ESPN, the Giants want Amukamara to make it "healthy for a full season" before deciding on whether to keep him.
Beckham comes in after having a stellar season as a rookie, putting up 91 catches for 1305 yards and 12 touchdowns. Beckham only played in 12 games last season after dealing with a hamstring injury and he is currently dealing with a sore hamstring in training camp. Beckham has been able to participate in workouts and while he may be limited in the preseason, the Giants are expecting the wideout to be ready for the season.
Jason Pierre-Paul has not signed his tender yet, but he is expected to return eventually before the start of the season. JPP had to get one of his fingers amputated in a fireworks accident and he also dealing with a fractured thumb. The Giants need JPP to be at least close to what he was before the injury, or the pass rush will be in big trouble this season.
Check here for more on the Giants in training camp and the preseason.