Giants wideout Victor Cruz hasn't gone through an entire practice yet this season, and his calf injury had not healed enough for him to be considered a 46-man possibility on Thursday against Washington.
But still, Cruz remains confident that Sunday's game against the Bills will be his debut.
"I'm convinced I'm playing Sunday," Cruz said via the New York Daily News.
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin isn't doing much to downplay the possibility either, noting that, "It feels like he's coming and is excited and is anxious to get back in there." Though Coughlin has been wrong on injuries in the past -- just look at how the Odell Beckham saga played out last year. He's probably learned to take a more measured approach.
Cruz has not played since Oct. 12 of last year when he sustained a gruesome patellar tendon tear. Though he rehabbed his way through the post-surgery phase, he picked up a nagging calf issue in the interim.
All of this has delayed the passing attack that Giants fans were drooling over for months. As Beckham continues to emerge as a top five receiver, it's easy to forget how potent and dangerous Cruz and Manning were a few years ago.
Rex Ryan's defenses have fallen victim to that combination before. There's no doubt Ryan will be looking forward to this rematch just as much.