VICTOR BRUISE: Giants WR Victor Cruz gets tangled up with a pair of Colts defenders early in last night’s 20-12 preseason loss at MetLife Stadium before departing and watching in street clothes (left). X-rays were negative, and Cruz was diagnosed with a bruised heel. Starting center David Baas also was injured, as he suffered a sprained MCL. (
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After only three plays last night, the Giants had two players heading inside for X-rays. It was that kind of evening for the Giants, who lost receiver Victor Cruz and center David Baas early in their 20-12 preseason loss to the Colts.
There were some tense moments before the X-rays came back negative, but that doesn’t mean the Giants got out unscathed. Cruz has what the Giants are calling a bruised heel and offered no time frame for his return. It is quite likely he is done for the preseason.
“He runs to make his living and he obviously has an issue with his heel,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “Hopefully, it’s not going to be a long thing.”
Baas’ left knee injury has been initially diagnosed as a sprained medial collateral ligament, usually a three-to-five-week injury, making it unlikely he will be available for the Sept. 8 season-opener in Dallas. That could start an offensive line chain reaction that moves Kevin Boothe to center, David Diehl to left guard and rookie Justin Pugh to right tackle.
“Anytime you lose some starters in a game, there’s always some concern,’’ Eli Manning said. “I don’t know the status of the injuries or how serious, but hopefully those guys can bounce back quickly.’’
In addition to the two offensive starters, defensive end Justin Tuck came away with a slightly strained hamstring.
Manning said he hoped seeing Cruz back on the sideline “fairly quickly’’ was an indication “somewhat of good news.’’ Hakeem Nicks said he thought the Giants were simply being “cautious’’ with Cruz. “I don’t think it was anything too serious,’’ Nicks said.
Cruz and Baas were long gone from the locker room not long after the game.
It appeared both got hurt on the same play, the third of the game, a deep pass from Manning to Cruz, with Cruz covered by safety Antoine Bethea and cornerback Greg Toler. The bass fell incomplete, but Bethea was called for pass interference, a 39-yard penalty.
It looked as if Baas got his left leg rolled up while pass blocking. Cruz did not appear to get tangled with either Colts defender on the play.
During the offseason, Cruz signed a six-year contract worth nearly $46 million. He has been an ironman with the Giants, staying healthy and on the field, and it remains to be seen how long his bruised heel will keep him out.
Baas underwent several surgical procedures during the offseason but was able to practice once training camp began. Once he went out last night, Jim Cordle replaced him at center, but the Giants have other options for the regular season.
Otherwise, it was another fairly pedestrian performance from the starting units, prompting some unusually terse preseason reaction from Coughlin, who was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the game.
“What we really need to do now is to stop reading the clippings and get back here and go to work and get better over the course of the week,’’ Coughlin said. “Let’s go prove who we are and what we have instead of everybody telling us how good we are.”
Manning (8 of 17, 91 yards) failed to connect for a touchdown. David Wilson showed flashes with a 21-yard run and a wild stop-and-go move on the right sideline after a catch and Nicks, in his first preseason game, had a pair of 20-yard receptions. But Andre Brown was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 on the Indy 7-yard line and Manning, apparently throwing to Nicks — with tight end Brandon Myers also in the area — made a poor throw that was intercepted by Greg Toler. The Giants settled for four Josh Brown field goals.
“We did some good things, and we did some things we need to do a lot better,’’ Manning said. “We had a couple opportunities to score touchdowns and we didn’t. We ran the ball better. We just have to be more consistent.’’
On defense, the Giants were carved up by Andrew Luck (9 of 13, 107 yards, two touchdowns). Tuck, in his first preseason appearance, was active.
The most embarrassing moment came when Luck underthrew Reggie Wayne, leaving cornerback Aaron Ross with a point-blank interception. Ross, though, stumbled after the ball hit his hands and as he fell backward at the Giants 3-yard line, he knocked the ball up and behind him, where Wayne was waiting in the end zone to haul it in for a gift 28-yard scoring play.
“We definitely need to get a lot better,’’ defensive end Mathias Kuwanuka said. “There are a couple of areas we need to improve on.’’