New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul injured his back last season. Since then he has struggled to get back to 100 percent add has been playing injured more or less.
“From a standpoint of my back strength, it’s just not there, I’d say it’s about 75 percent still to this day,” Pierre-Paul, who underwent back surgery in the offseason, said per The Star-Ledger. “I don’t have time to rest. I can’t rehab it that much or I’ll fatigue it.”
Some around the Giants camp have learned they can’t expect the usual JPP this season.
“I always expect Superman out of him,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “We think of him so highly and he does so many amazing things that when he walks on the practice field, you smile. It’s probably unfair to him because everybody’s expectations are for him to be Superman, but he’s human.”
Pierre-Paul says that teams shouldn’t underestimate him though. He might be playing through injury but he can still get the job done.
“Don’t be too stupid leaving me one on one with a guy,” JPP said. “You will be stupid leaving me one on one all game with a person.”
“You sit here and you see Twitter, whatever, you read about it and it doesn’t bother me. I know who Jason Pierre-Paul is, and I know what I bring when I’m 100 percent healthy. And I feel like anybody you put in front of me, they will not stop me. I have to get triple-teamed, I have to get double-teamed.”