"Who is the new guy?" teammates joked as Victor Cruz took to the field Tuesday during mandatory minicamp.
The veteran Giants wideout was seen running routes and catching passes during individual drills before sitting out the team portion of practice, per NJ.com. It marked Cruz's first real work since, essentially, last summer. Largely an afterthought in Gotham, Cruz has missed 26 straight games with knee and calf issues.
Tuesday's progress, though, serves as a major step for the one-time star, with Cruz saying: "I feel good. I'm just about there."
Cruz promised that come the start of training camp on July 28, "the plan is to be full go," calling this week a "turning point."
We've written hundreds of updates on Cruz, who hasn't played in a game for New York since October 12, 2014. In a world where he could stay healthy, the Giants would boast a fascinating cast of wideouts led by Pro Bowler Odell Beckham and second-rounder Sterling Shepard. With Cruz, though, nothing is guaranteed.
Other injuries and rehab scenarios we're tracking on this delightful Tuesday:
- Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis told reporters that he plans to be ready for camp after undergoing wrist surgery in March, per NFL Network's Kimberly Jones. Revis said he hurt the wrist "early in the season," forcing him to play through pain for most of 2015.
- Bad news for the Cowboys: Veteran running back Darren McFadden injured his elbow in an accident at home and will be out a "couple months" after undergoing surgery Tuesday, coach Jason Garrett told reporters.
- Redskins tight end Jordan Reedturned his ankle last week and the team doesn't expect him to practice this week, coach Jay Gruden said. Also, the team is being precautionary with rookie wideout Josh Doctson's sore Achilles tendon.
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that linebacker Elvis Dumervil has undergone a preventative surgery and will miss all of minicamp. He will, however, be ready for training camp.
- Aqib Talib is still in recovery after suffering a gunshot wound.
Here is what Broncos coach Gary Kubiak had to say on Talib's progress: "I don't know if there is any update. I would put him in the category of we're doing everything we can to have him ready for training camp. I think it's still a day-to-day process. I think he's just weaning off of the crutches right now, if I'm right. Our goal is to have him ready for camp like all of these guys."
