Victor Cruz, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie ruled out
The New York Giants desperately need to win on Thursday Night Football against the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium, but they will be shorthanded. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin released the injury report on Wednesday afternoon and both the receiver and cornerback are listed as OUT for the contest.
Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion) and WR Victor Cruz (calf) both were ruled out for Thursday night vs. Redskins.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2015
Rodgers-Cromartie was injured last week against the Atlanta Falcons, sustaining a concussion. Cruz has been out since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee against the Philadelphia Eagles early last season. The Paterson, NJ native says he is getting very close to returning, per James Kratch of NJ.com.
"“It felt good to be on the grass a little bit, get out there and run around a little bit,” Cruz said. “There’s no pain there anymore. So it’s just a matter of getting the confidence back to running on it and cutting on it. Things like that. And then we’ll go from there.”"
When Cruz gets back on the field, it will be a massive boost to the Giants. New York is 0-2 (although if it could figure out clock management, it would be 2-0) and needs a running mate for star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. It would be surprising if Cruz does not play in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills.
The Giants still have a chance to make a run in the NFC East. Washington is certainly nothing special and the Dallas Cowboys are beaten up with both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant sidelined for the next several weeks. The Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to be a great team, but instead are one of the league’s worst early on.