Giants receiver Cruz, Browns center Mack injured

 

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was carted off the field after tearing the patella tendon in his right knee in third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.
Cruz went down after a leaping attempt at a fourth-and-6 pass with the Giants trailing 20-0. He immediately grabbed his knee and was crying with his hands on his face as he was taken off the field in the Giants’ blowout loss.
Cruz was a Pro Bowl pick in 2012 and is known for his salsa dance after scoring touchdowns. The injury is expected to end his season.
Earlier, Cleveland’s big win over Pittsburgh Steelers was dampened by an injury to Pro Bowl center Alex Mack. Mack, who had never missed a snap in his pro career, broke his left leg in the 31-10 victory.
Mack was hurt while blocking on a running play in the second quarter. He was face down on the grass for several minutes before a cart was brought out to drive him to the locker room.
Browns coach Mike Pettine said the initial diagnosis was a broken leg. The team will have more details on Mack’s injury Monday.
As he was being treated by Cleveland’s medical staff, several Steelers approached Mack to wish him well. All of Mack’s teammates came out onto the field to support him, and he acknowledged the cheering crowd as he was taken away.
A former first-round draft pick, Mack had played 5,189 consecutive snaps coming into the game. He signed a five-year, $42 million contract in March.
”It’s tough,” quarterback Brian Hoyer said. ”Alex, other than Joe Thomas, has been the anchor of that line long before I got here. I know how much it means to him and when you see the whole team come over and check on him, it shows how much he means to this offense.”
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was concerned about the severity of linebacker Jerod Mayo’s right knee injury after a 37-22 win over the Buffalo Bills.
”Obviously, it was a little bittersweet with Jerod going down in the first half, so I hope he’s OK,” Belichick said without going into detail.
When asked what the impact of the starting linebacker’s injury might be, Belichick added: ”We’ll go forward this week and see what we think the best thing is to do.”
Mayo did not return after being carted off the field midway through the second quarter. He was hurt while stopping Anthony Dixon on a 3-yard gain up the middle. Mayo hit Dixon then was buried under a pile of players.
The Patriots also lost starting running back Stevan Ridley (right knee) and starting guard Dan Connolly (concussion).
Ridley was hurt late in the third quarter, when he was upended by Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore on a 2-yard loss. Ridley landed hard on the turf and had to be helped off to the sideline by trainers.
Belichick had no update on Ridley or Connolly’s injuries, except to say both will be evaluated Monday.
The Patriots face a short week in preparing to host the New York Jets on Thursday.
The Jets could be without starting cornerback Dee Milliner, who injured his Achilles tendon in a 31-17 loss to Denver.
Milliner was seen leaving MetLife Stadium on a cart after the game, crutches at his side. Coach Rex Ryan said simply that it was an Achilles tendon injury, but didn’t elaborate.
A torn Achilles tendon usually requires about one year of recovery.
Milliner, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2013, was hurt on Brandon McManus’ 37-yard field goal on the fifth play of the game. He was helped up by team trainers, but couldn’t put any weight on the leg. He immediately was taken to the locker room.
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