EAST RUTHERFORD - There is no time for rest if you're Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. These six weeks from the final day of minicamp until the start of training camp on July 28 are serious business.

Cruz is trying to accomplish the improbable. He's attempting to return after missing almost two full seasons because of injury and remain an impact player. It's rarely been done.

This "prep-cation" period (as coach Ben McAdoo called the start of summer for his players) is a time for Cruz to build on what he's accomplished since he started rehab four months ago from a calf injury that cost him all of 2015.

The veteran wide receiver returned to practice in a limited capacity all three days of minicamp this week. It was the first time he's practiced with his teammates since last October.

Now it's on to the next step in his rehabilitation.

"Really continue to train. I'm going to do it here [in New Jersey], most of it's going to be here," Cruz said last week at his Father's Day Football Exhibition and Skills Challenge. "You know I have my trainer Sean [Donellan] here, but I'll do it in unison with the Giants training staff so we're all on the same page."

That was the problem last year. Every time Cruz tried to participate in a full practice there seemed to be a setback. He eventually had to have the calf cemented back down last year.

There is a plan in place right now that they hope will prevent anything similar from happening. Cruz's career is at stake.

"I think probably about a week and a half before camp ramp it up, kind of get to where I need to be to be at that peak level. And then prove to myself that I'm ready to handle a full practice, a full game and take it from there," Cruz said. "Probably about a week and a half before training camp begins is when I take it full throttle."

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.