NFL Rumors: Could the New York Giants cut Victor Cruz?

Victor Cruz was a rising star not that long ago, but now he could find himself squarely on the New York Giants’ roster bubble.

In 2011, after not catching a single pass over just three games during his 2010 rookie season, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz burst on the scene with 82 receptions for a single-season franchise record 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns. He offered a solid follow-up in 2012, as he had 86 catches for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection. With on-field production and his salsa-dancing after touchdowns, Cruz became a marketable star.

But Cruz’s numbers fell off in 2013 (73 receptions for 998 yards and four touchdowns) as he also missed two games. He then suffered a torn patella tendon in October of 2014, and the pure nature and history of that injury created questions if he would ever recapture his previous form.

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Things were further derailed by a recurring calf injury that sidelined him for all of last season, but Cruz was a full participant when the Giants started training camp a couple of weeks ago. But since then Jordan Raanan of ESPN New York has cited a loss of “explosion and speed” from Cruz, and what has been reported this week to be a “tight groin” has kept him out of practice heading into the Giants’ preseason opener.

In response to someone on Twitter, regarding the odds Cruz could be cut based on merit, Raanan offered his thoughts.

Odell Beckham is obviously the No. 1 option in the passing game for the Giants, and well-regarded rookie and second-round draft pick Sterling Shepard seems to be locked into a prominent role. But beyond that the team’s wide receiver group is very ordinary looking, so leaving aside any leeway his name affords him Cruz’s inability to stand out should put him firmly on the roster bubble.

Cruz has two years after this one left on his contract, with base salaries of $6.4 and $7.4 million (via Spotrac.com) and salary cap hits totaling $17.9 million. After talk of restructuring his contract, Cruz took a substantial pay cut this past March to avoid being cut. It makes sense for the Giants to seriously revisit his status though, and even with financial implications to consider Cruz’s days in a Giants’ uniform could come to an end very soon.