Report: Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul Has Finger Amputated

ESPN’s Adam Schefter passed along these medical records that indicate that Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated earlier today.

httpss://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/618918579770146816

Schefter went on to report that, despite the procedure, Pierre-Paul’s season is not in jeopardy. A medical source he spoke to expects the franchise player to take the field this season, “sooner than people think.”

The Giants sent representatives down to Florida to see Pierre-Paul and get an idea of the severity of his injury, but were turned away. The representatives went back to New York without ever seeing Pierre-Paul. The procedure likely played a role in why the Giants were not allowed to meet with him.

Despite the new information, Pierre-Paul’s contract situation remains the same. He currently has a one-year, $14.8 million franchise tag tender on the table. The Giants and Pierre-Paul have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract extension, but the Giants pulled a long-term offer after Pierre-Paul’s accident, and an extension is not going to happen until after the season, at the earliest.

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated after a Fourth of July fireworks incident (Photo: Anthony Causi).

While unlikely, the Giants do have the option to rescind the franchise tag tender, which would immediately make Pierre-Paul an unrestricted free agent. But given the (surprisingly) positive news that Pierre-Paul will play this year, this is a highly unlikely scenario. Expect Pierre-Paul to sign the tender. What happens after that is a mystery at this time.

If it becomes clear Pierre-Paul will not be ready for the start of the season, the Giants could choose to place him on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. Doing so would keep Pierre-Paul out of at least the first six regular season games. The earliest he would be able to debut would be Week 7 vs. Dallas. The Giants would not be obligated to pay Pierre-Paul his base salary for however long he is on the NFI list.

Pierre-Paul is not the only NFL player dealing with fireworks-related injuries; the agent of the Bucs’ C.J. Wilson confirmed the cornerback suffered a hand injury while setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July. The incident reportedly cost him two fingers.

Our thoughts are with Pierre-Paul and Wilson as we wish them both a speedy recovery.

We’ll have more for you as this bizarre saga unfolds.

Scott Logan covers the New York Giants and Rutgers Athletics for Double G Sports. He can be reached on Twitter at @IAmScottLogan.