The New York Giants are hoping Victor Cruz can return soon to the starting lineup after dealing with a calf injury, as the wide receiver reportedly feels no pain heading into Week 7 on the schedule. The Giants have Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle healthy after both players started against the Eagles Monday and they should be solid fantasy football start options against the Cowboys on Sunday.
Cruz has been dealing with a calf injury since the preseason and that has kept him out of action for the Giants in 2015 up to this point. Cruz was injured last season against the Eagles with a torn patellar tendon and while he recovered well from that injury, the calf issue has stopped him from making his debut this season. Cruz was ready to play in the preseason before suffering the injury and a few weeks ago he was set to return to practice, but re-aggravated the injury.
Cruz received an injection to help speed up his recovery and according to the Bergen County Record, Art Stapleton reports that Cruz is not feeling any pain in his calf. The team has "guarded optimism" on Cruz coming back and while he may not be ready for Week 7 against the Cowboys, there is a chance he could come back the following week or perhaps in Week 9. The Giants are hoping that Cruz can play at least a little bit this season, as Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle have been banged up and there is not much depth behind those two players.
According to Pro Football Talk, Cruz is going to have an MRI on Wednesday and following that he "hopes" to be cleared to start running. Cruz retuning to practice and making it through a session, even on a limited basis, is a major first step in Cruz being active for the team. It's unlikely the Giants will push Cruz into the starting lineup even if he is cleared to run into Week 7 and that makes a return over the next few weeks more likely if Cruz has no setbacks.
Odell Beckham came into Monday night football as a question mark after dealing with a hamstring injury, but he was able to play against the Eagles and did not aggravate his injury. Beckham started off the game strong and scored a TD on the opening drive, but the Eagles did a good job of limiting him in the second half. Beckham finished with seven catches on eight targets for 61 yards and a touchdown and he is a high end WR1 against the Cowboys this week.
Randle has also been dealing with a hamstring injury and he was able to play on Monday night for the Giants. Randle had five catches for 44 yards in the game against the Eagles and with Cruz still not ready to return, the Giants need Randle healthy to help take some attention of Beckham.
