EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Now that Victor Cruz has returned to game action, the next step for the Giants' former Pro Bowl wide receiver is a return to NFL normalcy.
Cruz has not experienced that for a while, considering his 22-month ordeal in trying to recover from knee and calf surgeries, not to mention a groin issue that slowed his progress for nearly two weeks earlier this month.
"I feel like I'm getting into a little bit of a groove," Cruz said. "I feel like I'm getting into the ebb and flows of the season. ... I think I'm hitting my stride at the right time. Coming to the fourth preseason game, going into the regular season, I feel like I'm hitting my stride right where I want to be. I just want to continue to go forward."
Cruz will likely end up playing around 10 snaps Thursday night against the Patriots following his 32-snap effort against the Jets that lasted one series into the third quarter.
Giants coach Ben McAdoo would not put a number on the amount of snaps his starters will take against the Patriots, insisting the determination would be made on a case-by-case basis.
"I want to go out there and be efficient, be sharp, be good on my assignments, make sure I'm getting to my depth on all my routes and getting myself open," Cruz said.
"I think that's the next step: consistently getting myself open on these pass plays."
The opener against the Cowboys will represent 700 days between regular-season games for Cruz.
"That's a long time, to say the least," Cruz said.
"You know, it's something that I don't quantify myself, but to hear the number and to hear it out loud, it's a big deal."
