Victor Cruz Hauls in First Reception in 700 Days (Video)

Victor Cruz hadn’t made a catch in an NFL game in almost two years. That changed on Sunday against the Cowboys.

It’s been a long road back to the gridiron for New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz. After a slew of a debilitating injuries have left him sidelined over the past two seasons, though, he made a triumphant return in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Cruz wasn’t about just being on the field for no reason, though. Instead, the electric wideout looked to make an impact and did so in a great moment.

In the first quarter against their rivals, Cruz popped out for a short curl route near the left sideline. With the Dallas coverage giving the Giants receivers a hefty cushion, Cruz was left open. Eli Manning fired a strike to him and he hauled in the reception before being forced out of bounds. It may have been just a four-yard reception, but it felt like much bigger of a gain. After all, not all four-yard receptions are player’s first in 700 days because of injuries.

Cruz wasn’t done for the day either. The veteran has looked healthy every time that he’s taken the field for the Giants on Sunday. Moreover, he has shown that he can still beat coverages and get open to make some grabs.

Whether you’re a Giants fan or not, it’s hard not to root for Victor Cruz. He’s a talented player who’s just been down on his luck. If he can come back and produce like this in the offense, it’ll be one of the best stories of 2016.