Mark Dominik, Adam Caplan and Adam Schefter discuss how the Giants should handle Victor Cruz leading up to the season and the impact he could have on the receiving core. (0:59)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz returned Tuesday from a groin injury with his heaviest workload and most productive practice of the summer. For the first time in weeks, there was reason for optimism.

The groin injury Cruz had been dealing with didn't appear to limit him Tuesday, when he took 18 snaps during live drills and caught a team-high seven passes.

The plan is for Cruz to be back out at practice Wednesday and to play in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Jets. It would be his first game in 22 months.

Cruz's teammates were impressed.

"He came out, looked fresh [Tuesday]," wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said. "Again, the biggest thing is just Sept. 11. I know he would definitely like to get some preseason in. It's been a little minute since he's played.

"In my opinion, he looked great."

Cruz hadn't made it through a full practice in more than two weeks because of the groin injury. He did dress for Saturday's preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills and ran through pregame warmups.

There were more positive signs at Tuesday's practice, when Cruz mostly worked alongside Beckham and Sterling Shepard as the first-team receivers. He caught all his passes from quarterback Eli Manning.

There was one play in particular where he shot off the line and made a quick juke to the inside to beat cornerback Donte Deayon. It opened some eyes.

"He's quick," said Deayon, an undrafted rookie out of Boise State. "I didn't think he'd be that quick off the line right now. But he came off the line real quick and he got me. ... He shook and he shot across the field. He has his step back, he's quick and he's a veteran, so he knows his game."

Cruz, 29, has missed most of the past two seasons with knee and calf injuries. He tore the patellar tendon in his right knee on Oct. 12, 2014, against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Beckham continues to reiterate that the goal for Cruz should be the Sept. 11 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. But the Giants are anxious for Cruz to get on the field, hopefully as soon as this weekend against the Jets.

"It's important. It's the game," coach Ben McAdoo said. "That is what he is looking forward to. That is what we are looking forward to seeing him do."

McAdoo said last week the Giants still haven't been able to make an evaluation on him this summer. He's hoping this week provides some information.

"We'll find out more [Tuesday] and [Wednesday]," McAdoo said before Tuesday's practice. "But I'm looking forward to seeing him. It was nice to see him in a uniform in pregame the other day."

After coming through unscathed Tuesday, the next step is to string together back-to-back practices. Cruz's legs need to prove they can handle the pounding of football work. Then it's onto getting through the week and playing in the game. But for one day at least, the Giants were happy with where this situation is headed after years of health struggles.

"It's great to see Vic back out there," Beckham said. "He's been through quite a lot."