The Giants are in extreme need of help at the wide receiver position, but the club is not interested in a reunion with free agent pass-catcher Victor Cruz, head coach Ben McAdoo told reporters, including Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). “To my knowledge he is not an option,” said McAdoo. “But never say never.”
Cruz, of course, spent 2010-16 with the Giants, and was especially spectacular from 2011-13, when averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight touchdowns per season. Following three injury-ridden years, Cruz was released by the Giants in the spring, and he subsequently implied that the club’s coaching staff intentionally phased him out of the offense because New York was planning to cut him.
Although he signed a one-year deal worth up to $4MM with the Bears, Cruz couldn’t make it past final roster cuts despite Chicago’s depleted wide receiver depth chart. Cruz reportedly suffered a knee injury during the Bears’ preseason finale, but he now has a clean bill of health. Still, he has yet to generate any known interest being cut by Chicago.
New York is in dire straits at wideout, where Odell Beckham Jr. and Dwayne Harris are both out for the season. Sterling Shepard will be sidelined for a few weeks with a sprained ankle, while Brandon Marshall — who also suffered an ankle sprain — is still being evaluated. The Giants signed Travis Rudolph and Tavarres King this morning, and they’ll join Roger Lewis as Big Blue’s only healthy receivers.