Jason Pierre-Paul’s status still in doubt

Much like last season, the New York Giants start the season with an important NFC East game against the Dallas Cowboys and much like last season, the Giants are bothered by injuries to several important players.

None of those players are more important than defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (back), one of the league’s premiere pass rushers, and Victor Cruz (knee), who has developed into an elite pass catcher.

According to the Giants, both Cruz and Pierre-Paul were at practice today and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin told Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News were “full speed ahead.”

However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports Pierre-Paul, who had offseason back surgery, “is very questionable for Sunday’s opener against the Cowboys.”

Last season, Pierre-Paul had 66 tackles and 6.5 sacks, a bit disappointing in comparison to his 2011 season when he had 86 tackles and 16.5 sacks.

Cruz had 86 receptions for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, which also wasn’t quite as productive, yardage-wise, as the prior season. In 2011, Cruz caught 82 passes for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Giants and the Cowboys will kickoff Sunday night at 8:30 pm EST on NBC.