New York Giants star pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul recently made a possible career threatening decision. In his Florida residence during the Fourth of July holiday, he decided to do what many americans do on that day and play with fireworks. Well, that wasn’t exactly the best choice for Pierre-Paul because he suffered serious injuries to his right hand.
As a pass rusher, full grip and ability your fingers and hands are needed to play the defensive end position at the highest level. Unfortunately, Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated according to medical records obtained by ESPN.
Following from Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ed Werder also of ESPN is reporting JPP has suffered a fractured thumb.
ESPN obtained medical charts that show Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had right index finger amputated today. pic.twitter.com/VI5cbS1uCw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 8, 2015
Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul finger amputated today. Medical source expects him to play this season, "sooner than people think."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 8, 2015
In addition to right index finger amputation as @AdamSchefter reported, I'm told JPP has right thumb fractures. Should heal in 6 weeks
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) July 9, 2015
JPP’s medical records show he underwent a “ray resection,” leaving his finger amputated down to his knuckle. It’s obviously not the best news for anyone after previous reports indicated Pierre-Paul only suffered flesh injuries.
Giants representatives were unsuccessful in meeting with JPP in Florida earlier today as he reportedly denied the team access to come and see him. Now it appears he didn’t let them see him for good reason. He is expected to play this upcoming season but as far as when the season will start for him is unclear. The good news is, with a full amputation, the wound will heal faster and it’s quite possibly the least important of all the digits on the hand for a defensive end.
The Giants pulled their $60 million contract extension offer to Pierre-Paul after finding out the injuries could possibly be serious. JPP’s status with the Giants this season could be up in the air. He did sign his franchise tag tender with hopes of a guaranteed long-term deal but the Giants can always pull their contract and let him walk as an unrestricted free agent. He’s a player missing his finger without an actual contract so he will be very hard-pressed to get a big deal out of the Giants. He was expected to hold out of training camp so missing time due to his thumb ailment won’t exactly set the Giants back.
For New York, you have to imagine their patience for a player doing a foolish off-the-field incident isn’t very high, considering the drama they went through with Plaxico Burress a few years ago.
