The Sports Xchange

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins playfully approached a somewhat unfamiliar face that was part of the team warmups in Monday’s walk-through practice to make the acquaintance of the stranger.

The so-called stranger was receiver Victor Cruz. After missing the first three games of the season while battling back from a calf injury, Cruz was out there with his teammates for the warmups for the first time in almost six weeks.

Although Cruz wasn’t scheduled to actually practice with the team — he worked with a trainer on the side running some routes and catching some passes thrown by team assistant David Tyree — the affable receiver remains extremely encouraged about his long anticipated return to the field.

If that return does indeed happen Sunday, it will be Cruz’s first regular-season game action in almost a year. He initially suffered a season-ending torn patellar in his knee and then more recently developed a calf ailment in his other leg that has kept him out of action.

“I’m convinced I’m playing Sunday,” Cruz said. “The calf felt great. I ran a couple routes. I ran on the side with (trainer) Byron (Hansen), I ran about 20 routes just to kind of get myself used to running routes again, get my body used to running them again, seeing how the calf felt running routes. It felt good — there were no setbacks (and) everything felt fluid.”

The Giants have missed their slot receiver, whom they have tried to replace with Preston Parker, an experiment that didn’t end very well for either side as Parker is no longer with the team.

In addition to Parker, the Giants have lined up Dwayne Harris, Odell Beckham Jr., Geremy Davis and Rueben Randle in the slot, a group that has caught 13 of 20 pass targets for 130 yards and no touchdowns.

Besides his reliable hands, a healthy Cruz also has the ability to pick up the yards after the catch, something the Giants haven’t really had much of from their slot receivers this year.

“It’s certainly something that he brings to the table, but it’s something you need because in today’s games, so much is quick, ball comes out, tempo-type things that if you break a tackle and go, it makes it look like a long play,” said head coach Tom Coughlin.

“It’s very obvious that’s a huge part of the game today and because he’s been able to do that — and we’ve had other guys do that, as well — we look forward to that part of it, too, because it gives you another dimension.”

Cruz, who still must get through practice on Wednesday and then the longer day on Thursday, said he expects he’ll be put on a pitch count in his first game action back so that he doesn’t overdo things. However, he is hoping that on one of his snaps he gets the chance to rekindle an old, familiar tradition: his signature salsa dance after a touchdown.

“I’m not changing up anything,” he said, the smile on his face widening. “Will there be tears of some sort? Maybe. I’m not going to confirm nor deny that. But we’ll see; it’s definitely going to be an emotional game. It’s definitely going to be a fun game. I plan on just having fun and catching everything that goes my way, and hopefully come out with a win.”

Notes: Among those who did not participate in Monday’s walk-through were tight end Jerome Cunningham (knee), running back Orleans Darkwa (knee) and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee). Kuhn did not participate in the team’s Monday walk-through, instead working on a back field with a trainer. Kuhn has missed the last two games with a sprain, his status for Sunday still a question mark. . . . Among those who were limited Monday were left tackle Ereck Flowers (ankle), defensive end Robert Ayers (hamstring) and defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (foot). . . . Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion) cleared the league’s protocol and was back at work during the walk-through.