Cruz says knee is '100 percent'; eyes preseason action

Victor Cruz says he's all the way back.

The New York Giants wide receiver avoided the PUP list to start training camp, but his practice workload was closely monitored as he continued recovery from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his knee. That workload appears to be changing as we get deeper into August.

Cruz was a full participant in practice on Sunday and is expected to be a full-go for Monday night's practice as well.

"I feel good. The knee is 100 percent," Cruz told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Monday, via NJ.com. "(Sunday) was probably my most physically enduring practice, in terms of limitations. You know they have been keeping me down to a number of plays per day. (Sunday) was my most.

"I felt good. Woke up this morning, no injury, no pain, no swelling or anything. I feel like I've crossed that bridge."

Cruz would like the next step to come on the field at Metlife Stadium on Saturday, when the Giants host the Jaguars in their second preseason game. Cruz is ready to go, but Giants coach Tom Coughlin appeared to hint at the possibility of Cruz being held out of all of Big Blue's preseason slate.

"Not necessarily," Coughlin said when asked if Cruz would appear in a preseason game. "He has to do things gradually, and he's doing them gradually. He's getting to where he needs to be, and his mindset is outstanding. We brought him to the (preseason opener at Cincinnati) for a reason. We put him into the workout in Cincinnati for a reason. He didn't get a chance to play in the game, but he saw it. He was in it. He was involved. He was mentally involved, and he's looking forward to going to the next step."

Cruz has come a long way since he was crumpled on the turf at Lincoln Financial Field last November. If he can regain his old form, we're talking about a Comeback Player of the Year favorite.

The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down Week 1 of the preseason and kicks off a week's worth of spectacular fantasy insight.