AP

It looks like the long-awaited return of Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz to the field is a go for Saturday.

Cruz missed time with a groin injury this summer that kept him from playing in either of the team’s first two preseason games and led to enough speculation about his future that General Manager Jerry Reese felt the need to tell the world the Giants aren’t giving up on Cruz, who hasn’t played in a game since Week Six of the 2014 season. Cruz was able to practice this week, however, and coach Ben McAdoo said Thursday that the wideout “showed a burst” that left him “very optimistic” about Saturday.

“I’m ready,” Cruz said. “Obviously it’s been a long time coming … This one is crossing so many hurdles, so many barriers… To me, this game is bigger than just a game.”

When asked about when Cruz would play against the Jets, McAdoo said he plans to “put him out there early in the game” and hopes to see him get the ball in his hands. Quarterback Eli Manning has the same hope, although he said he won’t pass up other receivers just to get the ball to Cruz. Given how long the road back has been, it seems like a good bet the Giants will find a way to make that happen on what’s shaping up to be a big night for the wideout.