Giants' Cruz reflects on road to recovery

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is approaching top form after a lengthy injury-related hiatus.

Cruz tore his patellar tendon in October 2014 and was ruled out for the remainder of the year. While rehabbing for his 2015 comeback, Cruz damaged his calf and underwent another season-ending surgery. Nearly two years removed from football, Cruz has helped the Giants to a 2-0 start, and reflected upon his journey in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Ben Baskin.

"To go through the knee injury, and to come back from that, and then to have to battle something else, it was just a tough thing to handle,” Cruz said. "And then to be back at home again, staring at the wall, staring at the TV, in a boot. Your whole life you play this game, and for that to be taken away from you for an extended period of time, again, it was just hard to swallow."

Part of a receiving corps that features Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie standout Sterling Shepard, Cruz remains a featured weapon, catching eight passes for 125 yards and a touchdown through the first two games.

"My mindset now is that nothing can go wrong for me,” Cruz said. "I've already experienced the wrongest of the wrong, the worst of the worst. I know what that feels like, I know what it looks like. So now I'm just looking forward to whatever is next."

Cruz's comeback season continues Sunday against the Washington Redskins.