Victor Cruz was running pass routes on Saturday at the Giants’ practice complex hoping to finally be ready to make his season debut in a game on Nov. 29 against Washington.
Cruz, sidelined for 13 months since he tore a patellar knee tendon last year, appeared to have recovered from that serious injury. On Saturday, he was trying to overcome a bafflingly persistent calf strain that first hobbled him in August.
But running about 75 percent of full speed, Cruz suddenly had another setback, pulling up as his calf muscle gave away again. It did not take long for the Giants doctors to realize that Cruz would need surgery to correct the calf problem, which was diagnosed as a small tear.