Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul doesn't seem close to returning to the football field anytime soon, according to Tom Rock and Bob Glauber of Newsday.com.
"I would doubt it," said a league source to Newsday. This comment came one day after the Giants medical staff got to check on Pierre-Paul's hand. Pierre-Paul suffered the injury to his hand during a Fourth of July fireworks accident which resulted in him amputating his right index finger.
Pierre-Paul arrived back in New York on Monday, and he provided the Giants with all of his related medical records, according to ESPN's Ed Werder. As well as medical information, Pierre-Paul showed workouts he had been doing since the injury, including defensive line drills and weight lifting supervised by former Oklahoma coach John Blake.
"If it was up to him, he would wrap his hand in a cast and play," as source said to Werder.
The Giants have used their franchise tag on Pierre-Paul, but he has not signed the one-year tender of $14.8 million yet. The Giants could try to place him on the non-football injury list if they think he will need more than six weeks, but it's likely the Giants need him and soon.
The Giants open up against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, and missing your number one pass rusher against Tony Romo can be a problem. The Giants have Cullen Jenkins and Robert Ayers, two players who can get it done, but not with nearly the impact Pierre-Paul brings. Pierre-Paul had 12.5 sacks last season, which is six and a half more sacks then Jenkins and Ayers had combined. Ayers is more likely to be the pressure pass rusher the Giants need Sunday night. Also keep an eye on Damontre Moore who had five and half sacks in his second season with the Giants.
There is no doubt the Giants will miss a talent like Pierre-Paul for the beginning of the season, but truthfully people don't know what to expect from him. The real question will be if Pierre-Paul will be able to shed blocks as easily as before without his right index finger, and will it hinder him in wrapping up on tackles? It remains to be seen what Pierre-Paul's status will be with the team.
