Victor Cruz is far too familiar with getting injured, but the Giants receiver – who missed Thursday’s practice because of a sprained ankle – isn’t used to smiling after meeting with a team doctor.

“When he told me, ‘We’re optimistic you can play this week,’ I said, ‘Doc, that’s the most positive thing I’ve heard you say in about three years,’ ” Cruz joked.

Cruz, who missed most of the past two seasons with knee and calf injuries, is unsure whether he’ll be able to play Monday night against the Bengals, but he said his ankle has improved every day since suffering the injury last weekend. He said he believes the extra day of rest will “help a ton.”

Cruz spent Thursday working with trainers and said he has done “a little bit” of running.

“It feels better,” Cruz said. “There’s no swelling, no discoloration, nothing like that. There’s just some soreness there. … Just want to stay in front of it and stay ahead of it.”

Prior to suffering the most recent injury in Sunday’s win over the Eagles, Cruz had seen a reduction in snaps, but he said he believes Ben McAdoo’s decision was less about his inconsistent production and more about keeping him healthy the entire season.

“I think coach is just taking care of me a little bit,” Cruz said. “He came up to me and said we’re moving some guys around and making sure that everybody’s fresh and that we’re using all of our tools all there. … I want to play every snap. I’m a competitor in my own heart, in my own soul, but obviously I listen to the coaching staff and the training staff, and they want what’s best for me.”

On Friday, Cruz turns 30, another reminder of how much harder it will be to avoid injury. Still, after everything that’s happened, he sees no reason the next few years can’t be as good as his first few years.

“30’s the new 20 for me,” Cruz said. “I’m just excited for another chapter in my life. But I still feel great. I still can run with the best of them and run these routes and do what I need to do to make plays. Thirty, at least psychologically, makes me feel a little different.”

Leon Hall was never a healthy scratch during his first nine seasons in the league — with the Bengals — but the veteran cornerback is in danger of being listed as inactive for the second straight week and missing the meeting with his former team.

“It would suck for sure, just as much as it did last week,” said Hall, who was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career against the Eagles. “It caught me off guard a little bit, can’t lie.”

Defensive end Kerry Wynn (concussion) did not practice, though he worked on the side with a trainer. … Safety Andrew Adams (shoulder) and quarterback Ryan Nassib (elbow) were limited. … Odell Beckham Jr. and safety Nat Berhe are not listed on the injury report and both participated in practice. … Bengals starting middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (leg) is not expected to play Monday.