1. Cruz is "pretty much fully mobile" but not running yet.
The last time the Giants played Philadelphia, they lost wide receiver and offensive co-captain Victor Cruz for the season due to a knee injury that he suffered in the game. On Wednesday, he spoke to the media about his progress back from a torn patellar tendon. "I'm 10 weeks out," Cruz said. "This past Monday, I made 10 weeks. I'm on the treadmill. I'm not running just yet. I did some light stuff on the trampoline. I'm able to bend it. I get full range of motion. I'm on the elliptical. I'm doing calf raises, leg raises, knee extensions – all the fun stuff that comes along with rehab. I'm pretty much fully mobile, but just not running just yet."
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2. Coughlin: "I am thinking about this game."
Knowing that the Giants' season ends on Sunday, coach Tom Coughlin was asked about his emotions heading into the finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. "I am thinking about this game," he responded. "I am excited about the leading up to this game and what this group has been able to put together, although late in the season, what they have been able to put together. I look forward again to the challenge, which it is against a team that just two weeks ago played for the number one seed in the division and a team that is recognized as an outstanding football team and to see where we are."
*4. Kennard, A. Williams, and Hazel on injury report. *
In addition to RB Rashad Jennings (ankle) and LB Jameel McClain (knee), who were on last week's injury report, LB Devon Kennard (toe), RB Andre Williams (shoulder) and LB/DE Paul Hazel (hamstring) landed on the list on Wednesday. Everyone was limited except Kennard, who did not participate. While McClain was able to play last week in St. Louis, Jennings was not, but Coughlin said the running back "looked okay" early on in the week.
**>> VIEW FULL INJURY REPORT**4. Beason received an early Christmas present.
Unfortunately for the Giants, Beason was another co-captain whose season was cut short by injury and he updated his status on Wednesday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. But it was a good day for the veteran middle linebacker, who received an "early Christmas present" in the form of getting out of his walking boot. "They say with toes, it is like watching paint dry," Beason said. "So for the first four, five weeks, I was just sitting around with my foot up, stitches are in. Over three weeks, which is a little long, I was on a little scooter, unfortunately. It is going to pick up the next couple of weeks, and based on what Dr. Anderson down in North Carolina has told me, I will be back running around here in the next three to four weeks . We have plenty of time to get ready for the offseason program, OTA's, minicamps, and we will keep moving forward."6. Eagles' Kelly impressed by Giants' offense.
In the first leg of the season series, coach Chip Kelly's Eagles shut out the Giants, 27-0, at Lincoln Financial Field
Get to know the Giants' opponent for their Week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles
QB Mark Sanchez
RB LeSean McCoy
RB/PR Darren Sproles
WR Jeremy Maclin
WR Jordan Matthews
TE Brent Celek
LT Jason Peters
LG Evan Mathis
Center Jason Kelce
RG Andrew Gardner
RT Lane Johnson
DE Fletcher Cox
NT Bennie Logan
DE Cedric Thornton
OLB Connor Barwin
Casey Matthews
ILB DeMeco Ryans
ILB Mychal Kendricks
OLB Trent Cole
CB Bradley Fletcher
CB Cary Williams
Safety Nate Allen
Safety Malcolm Jenkins
Punter Donnie Jones
Kicker Cody Parkey
KR Josh Huff
Head Coach Chip Kelly
Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis
Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur
en route to a 9-3 start for his team. But both sides have changed since their first meeting in Week 6. "The way Eli Manning and that entire offense played last week was impressive against a real good St. Louis defense," Kelly said on a conference call with Giants beat reporters. "We played St. Louis. Going into the game, I think St. Louis had a couple games before they played the Giants where they were shutting people out, two straight. I think they are playing better on the offensive side of the ball. Eli Manning was 25-32 or something, I think the whole team is playing better in the last three games. That is the reason they are on a three-game winning streak."**
- Cruz has fond memories of Christmas Eve.**
Dec. 24, 2011 was a day that sparked a Super Bowl run for the Giants, thanks to Cruz's 99-yard touchdown in a Week 16 victory over the Jets. Big Blue went on to clinch the NFC East the next week against the Cowboys, and the rest was history.
"It definitely was a day that I will never forget, a day that kind of propelled us to the Super Bowl and winning it. And it's something that hopefully Giants fans and fans around the building and around the area just never forget that moment. It's something that'll live forever, and it's definitely something I'll cherish for the rest of my career and the rest of my life. So Christmas Eve is always a nice, nostalgic moment for me."
