EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is on pace to play in his first game in 22 months.
Coach Ben McAdoo is "very optimistic" Cruz will play Saturday in the preseason game against the New York Jets. It would be his first game since he tore the patellar tendon in his knee on Oct. 12, 2014, against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Cruz, 29, missed last season with a calf injury. He was recently sidelined by a groin problem before returning this week with two promising practices.
"I'm ready," Cruz said. "Obviously it has been a long time coming, but I had a good week of practice. Everything feels great, so I'm just excited to put it out there on the game field ... for the first time in a long time."
It may be the third preseason game for the Giants, but it's more than that to Cruz.
Playing in a game is an opportunity he had thought would happen last summer. Cruz was several days from stepping onto the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars last year when the calf problem surfaced.
This time, there were no reported setbacks from practices Tuesday and Wednesday, with the latter taking place in full pads.
"This one is more than just a game," Cruz said. "This one is crossing so many hurdles, so many barriers, so many ups and downs I had to face to get to this moment. And now I'm ready to relax and go play football again.
"To me this is bigger than just a game, although it's obviously a preseason game. But for me mentally, emotionally, physically, all of the above, it's more than just a football game for me."
It's only appropriate that the game is against the Jets. Two of Cruz's biggest games and many of his biggest plays have come against the Giants' crosstown rival.
Cruz had his welcome-to-the-NFL moment during the 2010 preseason against the Jets. He also had perhaps his biggest catch -- a 99-yarder on Christmas Eve in 2011 -- against the Jets.
"It's the story of my life, I guess. You can't write it any better than this," Cruz said. "This is the way my career has gone. This is the way my professional career has gone. The Jets preseason game has always been a landmark situation for me, and here we go again."
Cruz was active and productive Tuesday and Wednesday in team drills and came through it all in "good shape," according to McAdoo.
Cruz said he proved to himself he was fine on the practice field. Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said that some of Cruz's explosion he saw off the line of scrimmage gave him "visions of 2011." Wide receivers coach Adam Henry said he has seen progress" from Cruz this week.
It has everybody itching to see what Cruz can bring to the field in a real game.
"Excited to see him on game day and see him in live action," quarterback Eli Manning said.
Once he gets there, the goal is simple.
"I would love to see him get his hands on a football and make some plays for us," McAdoo said.