Giants FB Hynoski shows upward mobility

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks were the Giants' leading receivers in Sunday night's win over the Cowboys. No surprise there. But the third may shock you: fullback Henry Hynoski.

The rookie caught a career-high four passes for 31 yards and even made a highlight-reel play when he jumped over a tackle attempt by Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman for extra yardage. "He's shown from the very get-go he has good hands," Tom Coughlin said. "He is, many times, the third level [option] of the particular play-action pass."

As for his hurdle, Hynoski said it was not something he planned. It just happened. "It just kind of comes out of you," he said. "You don't really think about it beforehand."

He wasn't the only one to hurdle Newman. Tight end Bear Pascoe also did it in the first quarter for a big first down. A third Giant also attempted the feat, but Ahmad Bradshaw could not clear him and was tackled. That gave Hynoski and Pascoe some rare athletic bragging rights over Bradshaw.

"We let him have it," Hynoski said. "The one who would most likely normally make the jump didn't."

Cruz: Full speed ahead

Even though he was a virtual non-factor in the first two games of the season, Victor Cruz wound up third in the NFL in receiving yards behind only Calvin Johnson (1,681) and Wes Welker (1,569). A good deal of his team-record 1,536 yards came after the catch, when he showed surprising speed that doesn't always translate on to video as teams prepare to face the Giants.

"You hear those terms all of the time: quicker than fast, fast but not quick, doesn't start fast," Coughlin said. "This guy starts fast, is fast, is quick, can make people miss, obviously, and runs the ball with some authority once he has it."

Giant steps

Coughlin said DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle) came out of the game fine and without any setbacks . . . TE Jake Ballard (knee) and LB Mark Herzlich (ankle) are expected to run Tuesday and could be ready to practice this week.