Victor Cruz returned to Giants’ practice Tuesday in East Rutherford, N.J., and earned the Odell Beckham Jr. seal of approval.
It marked the first time in almost two weeks that the oft-injured 29-year-old wide receiver practiced with the team, and slightly increases the hope he will be able to resume his career after two frustrating seasons.
Cruz missed almost the past two weeks with a groin injury. The former UMass star missed last season with a calf injury and had his 2014 season ended after six games by a devastating knee injury.
The Giants and Cruz hoped this will be the year he returns, but there are doubters. Cruz missed the first two preseason games with the groin injury and there is no certainty that he will be able to play on Saturday against the Jets.
Cruz was not available after practice to say how he felt.
Beckham, who has emerged as Eli Manning’s go-to guy in Cruz’s absence the past two years, liked what he saw from the receiver who was one of the NFL’s biggest playmakers before being hurt.
‘‘Just seeing him back out there catching some balls, bursting a little bit,’’ Beckham said. ‘‘It feels right.’’
The play Beckham appreciated was the one where he was running a deep pattern and Cruz was running one underneath.
‘‘I looked back to see where the ball went and it went to 80,’’ Beckham said. ‘‘It was one-high coverage and it went to 80 and I see him take off. At first you see it and I was like I'm about to get this one. Then the ball went somewhere else and I saw him catch it, turn up field and burst. It’s great to see Vic back out there. He’s been through quite a lot.’’
If Cruz can come back, the Giants would have three receivers with big-play potential — Beckham, Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard, the second-round draft pick.
Giants GM Jerry Reese has said he wants to see Cruz play in two preseason games.
Beckham said the important date for Cruz is Sept. 11, the season opener at Dallas.
‘‘In my opinion, if he came out of preseason and didn’t do anything, dropped 95 balls and then came out in the regular season and caught everything, how much did it really matter at the time,’’ Beckham said. ‘‘That’s more of an opinionated question for him, I guess. In my mind, I'm definitely looking forward and think Vic will be ready come Sept. 11.’’
Ware back to work
Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware returned to practice on a limited basis with the plan to have him ready for the season opener against Carolina.
Ware missed training camp with a back issue that kept him out of five games in 2015, but said he feels much better than he did during Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina in the Super Bowl last February.
‘‘I was probably playing at 70 percent in the Super Bowl, still trying to be a little bit effective. Now I feel like I'm 94 percent,’’ he said, referring to his jersey number. ‘‘I feel great.’’
He took part in the walkthrough and drills at the beginning of practice before going in to work with strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson. Ware came back and watched the rest of practice from the sidelines.
‘‘He did all the individual, all the walkthrough and then he went with Luke for about 20 minutes and worked even harder,’’ coach Gary Kubiak said. ‘‘DeMarcus is doing good, he’s right on schedule to get to Carolina, which is where we’re trying to go. You'll see him do a little more each day.’’
Ware is entering his 12th NFL season and third with Denver after starting his career with Dallas. He didn’t miss a game in his first eight years with the Cowboys, and his 20 sacks in 2008 led the NFL. He has 134½ career sacks, 17½ with the Broncos.
Ware didn’t take part in any of Denver’s offseason workouts because of his back injury.
Ware said he isn’t concerned about playing in the last two preseason games and that the goal is to have him at full strength for the Broncos’ first game on Sept. 8. He acknowledged that while he feels great he needs to get up to game speed.
‘‘You have to get out there and do it,’’ he said. ‘‘See the ball hiked by the quarterback, see the formations, see what everybody else is doing and getting that feel. I got some of that feel [Tuesday].’’
Ware teamed with fellow linebacker Von Miller to anchor a stingy Denver defense last season that got better in the playoffs. The pair combined for 8½ sacks in the Broncos’ three postseason games. Ware had two in the win over the Panthers.
That was his last time on a football field until Tuesday.
Also, Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian didn’t throw because of a sore right shoulder. Kubiak said Siemian is day-to-day but is still the starter for Saturday’s preseason game against the Rams. Siemian hurt his shoulder trying to tackle San Francisco’s Ed Reid on an interception in Saturday’s 31-24 preseason loss to the 49ers.
‘‘I expect him to be there but it’s going to be a day-to-day process,’’ said Kubiak, who classified Siemian’s injury as a bruise. ‘‘He’s not used to tackling.’’
Siemian took part in some drills early and then handed the ball off in a scrimmage but stood by while Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch ran passing plays.
Bryant concussed
Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant will miss Thursday’s preseason game at Seattle after sustaining a concussion in practice. Coach Jason Garrett said that Bryant was hurt a day earlier when his head hit the shoulder pads of safety Barry Church. Bryant was held out of the rest of that practice.
On his Twitter account, Bryant promised Dallas fans that he is OK. Garrett said Bryant seemed ‘‘much better’’ Tuesday, and the coach doesn’t think there is a long-term concern.
‘‘It was a nondescript hit,’’ Garrett said. ‘‘He kind of turned and Barry Church was actually slowing down as he came over to him. But somehow the angle of Barry’s shoulder pads and the angle of Dez’s head, they hit. Dez took a couple of steps and he kind of felt something.’’
Bryant, 27, a 2014 All-Pro, was limited to career lows in catches, yards, and touchdowns last season after breaking his right foot in the opener.
Although he returned after missing five games, he had just one 100-yard game and sat out the final two games with the Cowboys out of contention on their way to a 4-12 finish while also without quarterback Tony Romo for 12 games.
The injury means Bryant is probably finished for the preseason because most if not all the starters will sit the finale at home against Houston on Sept. 1. The season opener is Sept. 11 at home against the Giants.
Bridgewater throws
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has resumed throwing with his sore shoulder, but coach Mike Zimmer has kept up his silence about Bridgewater’s status. Bridgewater threw a few dozen short and medium-length passes in practice, for the first time in front of reporters in a week. He didn’t play in the preseason game at Seattle, and Zimmer has refused to discuss the injury . . . Tight end Craig Stevens informed the Titans he would file retirement paperwork with the league. Stevens, 31, spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Titans, who drafted him in the third round out of California in 2008 . . . Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin is being evaluated for a possible concussion sustained during practice. Coach Rex Ryan said Goodwin was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol, which makes it unlikely he will play in Buffalo’s preseason game at Washington on Friday. Goodwin was hurt when the back of his head slammed against the turf while attempting to make a catch in the end zone during a red-zone drill . . . Linebacker Vince Williams signed a three-year contract with the Steelers.
Williams has played in 47 career games, making 13 starts . . . Running back Terron Ward (ankle) and safety Kemal Ishmael (shoulder) will miss their second straight preseason game when the Falcons play the Dolphins on Thursday night. Coach Dan Quinn said each could return for next week’s final preseason game against Jacksonville.
Cromartie in the house
Less than 24 hours after the Colts signed the Antonio Cromartie, the veteran cornerback came back to the team’s complex and got right to work like he'd never missed a day.
‘‘I love the irony of it,’’ Cromartie. said ‘‘Me and [Darren] Sproles, they called us Colts killers when we were in San Diego together. But I'm glad I'm here now.’’
Indianapolis desperately needed someone like Cromartie to fill the void left by a rash of injuries. How much can Indy really expect from a 32-year-old coming off his worst statistical season since 2006? The Colts believe he can fit right in and be a prominent contributor.
Two years ago, Cromartie made the Pro Bowl, then followed Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to New York. The Jets signed him to a four-year, $32 million contract. While Cromartie cashed in, the Jets wound up getting just 26 tackles and no interceptions out of their investment. They cut Cromartie in April.
He spent the next four months getting healthy, working out and waiting for the phone to ring as rumors swirled about a hip injury. When the call finally came last Friday, he flew to Chicago and left a meeting with the Bears without a contract. Two days later, the Colts were on the phone and Cromartie got to Indy as fast as he could.
‘‘The time off gave me extra time to train and get myself in shape,’’ he said. ‘‘So when the call came, I said, ‘Come on, let’s go.' ’’
