The NY Giants are hoping that Victor Cruz can return after the upcoming bye week from the calf injury that has kept the wide receiver out all season. New York is aiming for Jason Pierre-Paul to play on Sunday against the Buccaneers, as JPP has returned to practice ahead of Week 9 after recovering from his hand injury from a fireworks accident this summer.
Cruz has not been able to get on the field for the Giants this season and there is still no official date for the wideout to return. According to the New York Daily News, Ralph Vacchiano reports that Cruz thinks he should be able to return after the bye week for the Giants, which comes after the team plays the Buccaneers and the Patriots next on the schedule. The Giants have the bye on November 22 and then the team returns against the Washington Redskins on November 29 and that could be an option for Cruz to come back.
UPDATE: JPP played the majority of snaps for the Giants Sunday.
Cruz suffered a serious knee injury last season and he made progress over the summer from that injury, but he later came down with a calf injury and that has been lingering this year. Cruz was set to return in the preseason before suffering the injury and he also tried to come back for Week 4 for the Giants, but he aggravated the injury in practice and has not been able to participate since then. Cruz said to Vacchiano that his calf injury is "healed" and that his latest MRI tests were clean and that his return is "just a matter of how I feel."
The Giants are right in the mix in the playoff race in the NFC East and the team would get a huge boost if Cruz can return for the back stretch of the season. The Giants have been getting strong play from Odell Beckham again and Rueben Randle has also been solid this season, but the offense would be even better with Cruz on the field, even in a limited capacity. Beckham is coming off of a huge game against the Saints with eight catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
The Giants are also hoping that Jason Pierre-Paul can return for Week 9 against the Buccaneers, as the defensive end was able to return to practice this week. Tom Coughlin said that JPP is practicing in full for this week and the team would love to have him back on the field. The Giants have not generated much of a pass rush this season and even with JPP slightly limited due to his hand, the team wants to see if he can get things going. Pierre-Paul has not officially been ruled out yet for the game and the Giants likely will decide ahead of Week 9 if he plays.
The Giants also may get Prince Amukamara back this week and that would be a big boost for the secondary. Larry Donnell is banged up and there is chance that he could be out for the Giants in Week 9 and if he is out, Will Tye and Jerome Cunningham will get the chance to play.
