Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul took to Instagram earlier this month to show off his training routine and help quell public concerns about his condition. Apparently, that display didn’t do much to change opinions in East Rutherford, as Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com write.
Part of the video shows JPP bench pressing a barbell, but he only does five reps of ~240 pounds. Furthermore, he had a small yellow towel wrapped on the bar to protect his damaged right hand. While there is some talk that the defensive end will seek a grievance against the Giants if they do not deem him physically ready to play this season, the video, photos of his hand, and his physical evaluation have not done him any favors.
The ESPN duo adds that the condition of his middle finger was a much more significant concern than anyone was led to believe before he allowed the Giants to examine him. As it stands, there is some concern about whether that middle finger will ever be “football-functional.” To make matters worse, Pierre-Paul is severely underweight. Listed at 6’5″, 278 pounds, JPP had a goal of reporting to camp at 265. However, he was down at least 20 pounds, maybe more, when he visited the team. One source told Mortensen and Schefter that he weighed 246 pounds while another team source said he was around 255 pounds.
Pierre-Paul has been an important piece for the Giants during his five-year career, collecting 42 sacks – including 12.5 last season – since they used a first-round pick on him in 2010. The Giants had the NFL’s 29th-ranked defense last year even with Pierre-Paul, so the Giants clearly would like to have him back on the field, if he’s capable of playing. Right now, that seems very much in doubt, despite the defensive end’s claims.