Victor Cruz expected to play in Week 4

Victor Cruz has not appeared in an NFL game in almost a year, but a timetable has finally been set for the New York Giants wide receiver to return to action.

While Cruz has only been spotted running on the side at practice over the past several days, Giants coach Tom Coughlin revealed on Friday that he expects Cruz to make his 2015 debut against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4.

“That’s what we’ve been told,” Coughlin said according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

Cruz has been dealing with a strained calf in addition to rehabbing from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee that he suffered last season. He was expected to be ready for the start of the 2015 season before the setback, and Coughlin provided very few updates on Cruz’s status prior to Friday.

“He’s improving and we’re hoping,” Coughlin said. “He’s running. He’ll be running all weekend, and we’re hoping that there’s nothing but straight ahead positives in all his activities, and we’ll see next week if we can get him on the practice field.”

Giants receiver Rueben Randle finally broke out with seven catches for 116 yards and a score in a win over the Washington Redskins Thursday night, but he has been wildly inconsistent and often looks out of sync with Eli Manning. If Manning and Cruz can rediscover some of the chemistry they displayed before last year, that would go a long way toward taking pressure of Odell Beckham Jr. and freeing up more space.

Cruz can’t be expected to make mind-blowing catches like this, but he should help New York’s passing game if he’s 100 percent healthy.

Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports