Victor Cruz returned to practice on Sunday and participated in some individual and team drills, but Ben McAdoo said after the workout that the sore groin that has sidelined him since last week is “still bothering him a little bit.”
“[We’ll] take a look at him tomorrow,” McAdoo said. “He’ll get treatment tonight, and then we’ll take a look at him tomorrow and see how he’s feeling.”
Cruz was able to do some activities, though not all. And he never appeared to run anything at full speed. Even the routes he engaged in with the full offense seemed to be dialed back from a sprint.
Cruz hasn’t played in a game since October 2014, missing most of that season with a torn patellar tendon and then all of last season with a calf injury that ultimately required surgery. McAdoo said that history does not influence how he treats Cruz’s attempted comeback this summer.
“I listen to the medical report,” he said.
Cruz was practicing regularly in training camp until the groin began to act up on him last week, forcing him to miss two practices and the preseason opener. Now, it seems, he’ll continue to miss time.
“We had a couple of guys who were sore from the game,” McAdoo said. “[Cruz] didn’t play in the game, but if he’s not feeling up to par and can’t push through, then he cannot practice.”
Wide receiver Geremy Davis (hamstring) and cornerback Eli Apple (knee) were the only players who were in Friday’s game and missed Sunday’s practice. Apple, McAdoo said, has a slight muscle strain but an MRI on Saturday revealed no significant structural injury. Apple said he’s been told that he’ll be back soon and is considered day-to-day.
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who also left Friday’s game with a groin issue, was a full participant in Sunday’s practice.
“I think he was a little sore too, but he fought through it,” McAdoo said. “He got a little more than anticipated.”
As for Cruz, he’s not only fighting through the groin injury but it seems as if he is fighting for a roster spot and his continued place on the team. While he’s been coming along through camp several younger receivers have clearly out-performed him, raising the idea that his 29-year-old surgically-repaired legs may not be able to carry him much further in the NFL.
Then again, Cruz could be back on the field on Monday if he’s feeling up to it.
“One thing you learn is that you never say never in this business,” McAdoo said. “You never know when someone is going to turn the corner.”
..... - Newsday