Tom Coughlin wasn’t thrilled Victor Cruz needed knee surgery this week, but the Giants coach liked the timing of it.
Cruz underwent an arthroscopic debridement Thursday in Florida, ending the star wide receiver’s season two games early but — at least in Coughlin’s opinion — setting Cruz up for an even better 2014.
“[The need for surgery was] very unfortunate,” Coughlin said Friday. “Victor was having a good year. It would have been great to have him for these last two games, but we’re very confident that the swiftness with which the procedure was done should give him an outstanding opportunity in the offseason to be stronger than ever.”
Indeed, by having the surgery now Cruz is expected to be healed by the start of the Giants’ offseason program. The procedure also was minor enough that he should be able to participate in the team’s late-spring minicamp.
By missing the final two games, Cruz will end up two yards shy of his third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. He finished the year with a relatively disappointing 998 yards and four touchdowns on 73 catches, and Cruz’s six drops were among the most for a receiver in the league.
Lions receiving star Calvin Johnson returned to practice Friday after missing two days with a knee injury and is expected to play.
Detroit officially listed Johnson as questionable on the injury report, but Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara said he would be shocked if Johnson sits out with the 7-7 Lions fighting for their playoff lives.
“Oh, he’ll be out there,” Amukamara said. “I can’t see him missing this, and me and the other cornerbacks are looking forward to it. This is the kind of matchup you look forward to because you get a chance to show what you’re made of and how you stack up against the best.”
Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was officially ruled out of Sunday’s trip to the Lions because of a shoulder injury, and it now appears very likely Pierre-Paul won’t play again this season.
Coughlin was cryptic when asked about Pierre-Paul’s situation.
“The doctor won’t clear him unless certain things happen and so far, they haven’t,” the coach said.
Also ruled out Friday by the Giants were running back Peyton Hillis (concussion) and safety Cooper Taylor (hamstring).
Offensive lineman David Diehl is listed as doubtful with a knee injury but appears unlikely to play after not practicing at all during the week.
That means 2012 fourth-round pick Brandon Mosley has a very good shot at making his first career NFL start. Mosley practiced all week with the starters at right guard.
“He’s worked hard,” Coughlin said of the 6-foot-5, 318-pound Mosley. “He’s a hard-working young kid. He’s nice and thick, an [offensive]-line type, and hopefully he’ll play well.”