What's Next for Eli Manning, NY Giants Offense After Victor Cruz's Injury

The New York Giants should eventually get over the 27-0 butt-kicking handed to them by the Philadelphia Eagles in front of a national television audience.

Whether the Giants manage to recover from a season-ending knee injury to star receiver Victor Cruz is quite another matter.

Cruz suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in the third quarter of the game on a 4th-and-goal from the Eagles' 3-yard line.

The receiver ran toward the corner of the end zone but awkwardly planted his right leg as he went to cut toward the corner. 

He tried to reach up for the ball but was unable to do so thanks to the injury, instead falling to the ground clutching his right knee and curling up into a fetal position.  

As both teammates and members of the Eagles gathered around him in prayer, a cart came out to whisk Cruz away for further evaluation.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

The Giants announced through a written statement that Cruz would spend the night at a Philadelphia hospital before returning to East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Monday morning.   

“That’s your brother out there on the floor,” safety Antrel Rolle said in his postgame press conference. “To take a fall like that is very unfortunate. I know he is a fighter and he will be okay. He’ll bounce back.”

When Cruz was carted off the field, his face buried in his hands while he sobbed from the pain of the injury and, perhaps on a deeper level, the lost opportunity for the team, the Giants offense suffered a major loss to a key player it could ill afford to lose. 

“It’s tough; you never want to see a player go down, especially when the player is down for a long time and in a lot of pain,” Manning said during his postgame press conference of losing Cruz.

“I’m thinking of Victor and hoping he can heal up quickly. I don’t know what’s involved, but hopefully he can heal up quickly and get back to football.”

So where do the Giants go from here?  

First, let’s look at what Cruz is potentially facing as far as surgery and his rehab. Orthopedic surgeon David J. Chao, a former NFL head team physician who has not treated or diagnosed Cruz's injury, believes that the receiver is in for a lengthy recovery once he has surgery to repair the patellar tendon.

On the football field, Cruz’s injury leaves a gaping hole in the Giants offense. While his numbers weren’t exactly gaudy—his season ends with 23 receptions for 337 yards and one touchdown—he was the team’s lone legitimate and consistent deep threat.

Per Pro Football Focus, Cruz was targeted six times this season (through five games) on passes of 20 or more yards, catching just one of those balls for a 29-yard gain.

That tops No. 2 receiver Rueben Randle, who, while also targeted six times (through five games) on passes of 20 or more yards with one reception, only came up with a catch of 27 yards.

Then there is the matter pf how to replace Cruz in the slot. Again, through five games, Cruz lined up in the slot 32 times out of 37 pass targets, catching 18 passes for 308 yards with a 71-yard touchdown. 

Remember, Jerrel Jernigan, who had been the backup slot receiver, was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list after suffering a sprained foot in the Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

The most likely scenario for the Giants will be to get rookie Odell Beckham Jr., who just completed his second NFL game, ready for the role moving forward. 

New York could also turn to its tight ends, either Adrien Robinson or Larry Donnell, as an option in the slot. Both have taken snaps from the slot, and both have good size that could create some mismatches against opposing defenses.

Whatever combination the Giants go with, they are certainly going to miss the presence of their offensive co-captain, whose last act, as witnessed by NBC Sports’ Josh Elliott on what was a horrific night for Big Blue from start to finish, tells you everything you need to know about Cruz's character, even during his darkest hour. 

All quotes obtained firsthand via player postgame press conferences unless otherwise sourced. Advanced analytics and stats via Pro Football Focus (subscription required), unless otherwise noted.