The NY Giants are coming into the season hoping that Jason Pierre-Paul can make an impact despite his hand injury and finger getting amputated and reports have JPP set to return to the team soon and Tom Coughlin is hopeful that the defensive end can come back strong for New York this year.
Pierre-Paul has been staying out of the spotlight and after a number of negative stories about his hand injury, recovery and returning to the Giants, things are looking a bit more optimistic. According to Ian Rapoport at NFL.com, Pierre-Paul is "progressing very well" in his rehab and he "plans to report" to the Giants before the regular season starts. The talk about Pierre-Paul's hand has dominated the JPP story overall, but he also is not even under contract yet for this season.
The Giants and Pierre-Paul have the $14.8 million tender waiting and the team needs to see if JPP can pass a physical before the deal is signed. The team has not rescinded the franchise tag for Pierre-Paul and while he has not signed it yet, that is the expected outcome for the sides. If JPP doesn't pass the physical, he could end up on the non-football injury list, but it's likely that he will try and avoid that outcome. JPP likely will miss the opening game of the season no matter what based on his injuries, but he could be back during the first half of the season.
The tough part about JPP coming back is that until he has a physical, the Giants will not really be able to know when he can play, even if he is making progress. NFL.com reports that JPP is expected to be at the "Giants facility" before the regular season starts and it could take a "few weeks to round into form" once he does eventually return. Once JPP signs his tender he can be placed on the NFI list and that is something he likely is looking to avoid, as he could go unpaid for the first six weeks of the season.
Rapoport writes that JPP and the Giants could work out a deal to get Pierre-Paul back in even if he is not fully ready, as they could agree not to put him on the list. Rapoport reports that JPP is getting "back into shape" and that he has not needed a cast for his hand. The Giants have publically said they want Pierre-Paul back with the team and once that happens, it remains to be seen how the sides will handle the status for the defensive end on the roster.
Things were already tough for JPP and the Giants, as the team had to decide on trying to sign him long term after having a bounce back season. JPP had just 8.5 sacks in 2012-13 while dealing with injuries and inconsistent play and he bounced back with 12.5 sacks last season. But most of those were down the stretch and the team had to decide if it was a "real" comeback or not. The fireworks injury took a long term deal off the table and now it's all about the tender and recovery.
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