After initially steering clear of any setbacks as he attempts to come back from knee and calf injuries that kept him off the field since October 2014, Cruz was sidelined with a groin issue that kept him out of the preseason-opening loss to the Dolphins.
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The New York Giants held their final training camp practice on Monday. “I’m not going to share that; I’ll keep our conversation private”. Asked if Cruz could possibly play in the game, McAdoo said, “It’s early in the week; we’ll see”. And with doubts about Cruz’s ability to complete his comeback bid after missing nearly all of the last two seasons due to injury, and many beginning to wonder aloud if his roster spot is in jeopardy, McAdoo revealed to reporters he sat down with Cruz on Sunday. He has virtually no chance to play in Saturday’s game against the Bills in Buffalo, and the Giants are searching for any sign of progress as the days move forward and Cruz sits.
“I support Victor 100 percent”, McAdoo said. He added there was no setback for Shepard, but that the Giants simply decided not to push him on Monday. “We expect him to be more consistent and that’s what he needs to work toward”.
The groin injury is only the latest chapter in the wide receiver’s protracted return to the field.
Though Cruz did participate in training camp practices prior to this latest injury, McAdoo indicated they really haven’t been able to fully evaluate him yet.
“We believe Bobby has some versatility”, McAdoo said.
Odell Beckham Jr. briefly may have given fans and the Giants a scare Monday, when the receiver gingerly walked off the field and grimaced while looking at the back of his left ankle. The Giants are off Tuesday before returning to practice Wednesday.
“They broke it up, they handled it well”, McAdoo said.
Monday’s hot, physical practice took its toll on several players. The other two rode the cart. Cruz, corner Eli Apple (leg muscle strain), defensive end Kerry Wynn (groin), wideout Geremy Davis (hamstring), fullback Nikita Whitlock (burner), tight end Will Johnson (burner) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (PUP) did not practice.
Interesting that when starting right guard John Jerry left practice with an illness, second-year man Bobby Hart was the player who stepped in to take first-team reps in Jerry’s spot.
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“I don’t like it”.
