AP

Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz left practice Tuesday with a groin injury and missed Wednesday’s session as well with an injury that he says won’t keep him out of the lineup for long.

Even if the injury proves to be a minor one, it’s a reminder that Cruz hasn’t played in almost two full seasons and that the Giants can’t put too many eggs in that basket when it comes to plans for the passing game this season. That’s why they drafted Sterling Shepard in the second round of the draft and Shepard’s drawn plenty of good reviews for his practice work on his way to a spot on the first team this summer.

Those reviews continued on Wednesday. Odell Beckham, Shepard’s partner in the starting lineup, predicts big things for the rookie.

“I don’t want to spoil the surprise but it’s going to be … he’s going to be a special player,” Beckham said, via ESPN.com. “I kind of want to keep him on the down low for right now so that way he just jumps out the first couple games and has some big plays, touchdowns and all that. … I think you’re seeing him start to feel more comfortable. And he’s going to be a big-time player.”

Expecting a Beckham-esque impact as a rookie is a stretch, especially with Beckham on the field. Providing the Giants with more of a threat than they had with their non-Beckham wideouts last season is a more reasonable expectation and would be a reason to expect a better spot in the standings than the Giants have managed in recent years.