The New York Giants will be without Victor Cruz again in Week 7 against the Cowboys, as the wide receiver is still hampered by a calf injury, but Odell Beckham is expected to play Sunday. The Giants have Will Beatty back in practice and he could return soon, while Jason Pierre-Paul still remains a question mark this season with his hand injury issues.
--UPDATE: Jason Pierre-Paul is meeting with the team this week.
The Giants have been looking for Cruz to get back on the field this season, but the wide receiver has been hampered by a calf injury. Cruz suffered a serious knee injury last season and he made good progress heading into the preseason, but he injured his calf before the game against the Bengals and has not been able to do much since then. Cruz was looking to make a comeback in Week 4 of the season, but he aggravated the injury in practice and remains out.
According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, Cruz had an MRI last week and while the Giants had "guarded optimism" about the injury, the MRI revealed that the calf still has not fully healed. Cruz received a plasma injection earlier in the month to help speed up his recovery and Cruz said that he is feeling no pain in his leg from the injury anymore. Cruz is officially out for Week 7 and while there is as chance for Week 8, it's more likely that the Giants will be cautious and that could mean a return later in November or December.
Odell Beckham is coming into Week 7 against the Cowboys listed as questionable on the injury report, but he is expected to play. According to Pro Football Talk, Beckham has not been practicing this week due to a hamstring injury, but head coach Tom Coughlin said that the team expects Beckham to play. Beckham had the same issue last week and was able to play against the Eagles and having him on the field is even more important with Cruz still not ready to come back.
Beckham has continued to play well after his breakout rookie season, as he has 38 catches for 489 yards and four touchdowns in six games played this season. The Giants are hoping to get lineman Will Beatty back into the mix soon and according to Newsday, Beatty has started doing individual drills in practice. Beatty coming to practice means the Giants have three weeks to activate him from the PUP list. Beatty likely will not be ready for this week, but he could be back for games in November.
Jason Pierre-Paul was reportedly set to meet with the Giants this week to get an update on his progress from hand surgery, but the meeting did not happen, according to ESPN. Dan Graziano writes that the meeting could happen "within the next week" and that the Giants have until November 17 to bring in Pierre-Paul, or he will be out for the season.
Check here for more on the Giants, Cruz, Beatty and Beckham.
