Giants receiver Victor Cruz says he’s not close to all the way back from the torn patellar tendon that ended his 2014 season.
“I’ve started to do some things and I’m starting to feel my knee getting better and responding better, but I understand there’s a long way to go and a process and I don’t wanna rush anything,” Cruz told Complex.com.
Cruz said he has to actively remind himself to slow down and go on the pace that his knee needs to heal, even if mentally he’d like to push himself harder.
“It definitely is one of the most difficult things I’ve had to go through in my life,” Cruz said. “Still currently going through it. It’s not easy to come back from something like this and to work every day. I guess I’m in the parts right now when it’s more [physical]. Physically getting it stronger, getting the muscle back. Literally when you have surgery on your knee, the muscles atrophy and just go [away]. Your muscles just go [away]. So physically is definitely the hardest part right now. I think the mental aspect was early and then it’ll be late. ‘Early’ meaning when it first happened, thinking you probably won’t be able to even run again; and ‘late’ when you are able to run and jump and mentally being able to connect to your knee, saying that you can do all these things and not being afraid to do it. I think that’s both sides of it.”
Cruz has said he’s unsure whether he’ll be ready for Week One. He’s wisely taking it slow.