All signs still point to Jason Pierre-Paul making his 2015 debut on Sunday, but the Giants are likely to wait until the last possible moment to make it official.
Coach Tom Coughlin said Friday Big Blue won’t decide whether to put Pierre-Paul on the active roster until after they see him take part in a brief workout planned for Saturday morning.
By NFL rule, the Giants must decide by 4 p.m. Saturday to activate Pierre-Paul for him to play on Sunday in Tampa.
“[Saturday], we’ll have a brief workout and we’ll go from there,” Coughlin said. “I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen this week. … That’s as far as I’m going right there. Let’s make the decision [Saturday].”
Several of Pierre-Paul’s teammates said Friday they expect him to play against the Buccaneers. The Giants’ 2014 sack leader has not played in a game in almost a year after blowing off his right index finger and part of his right thumb in a July 4 fireworks accident.
Coughlin certainly has given every indication this week that Pierre-Paul’s time is now, less than two weeks after rejoining the team. Coughlin also indicated the only thing that would be limited with Pierre-Paul, at least initially, would be his snap count.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and we’re very positive about it,” Coughlin said. “He obviously has played many, many years in all circumstances, so I don’t think necessarily that’s true [that Pierre-Paul would be in a specialized role].”
The injury-ravaged Giants might be the healthier team on the field Sunday, for a change.
The Buccaneers announced Friday wide receiver Vincent Jackson (knee), defensive end Jacquies Smith (ankle) and safety Major Wright (hamstring) have been ruled out against the Giants.
All three are major contributors, with Smith currently leading the team with five sacks.
Enigmatic defensive lineman Damontre Moore committed a critical roughing penalty against the Eagles, was deactivated against the Cowboys and then committed another roughing penalty last week against the Saints.
Moore is a touchy subject with Coughlin, who angrily insisted Friday that Moore isn’t in his doghouse despite the benching and recurring on-field discipline issues.
“He’s not in the doghouse,” Coughlin said. “That decision [to make Moore inactive against Dallas], we’re not talking about that decision. That’s between he and I. If he has a suit, he’s got to contribute. That’s basically what it is.”
The Giants officially ruled out cornerback Prince Amukamara (pectoral), linebacker Jo n Beason (ankle/knee), wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf), tight end Larry Donnell (neck) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (ankle).
Coughlin said Amukamara is close to returning, though, after practicing this week.
“He needs more time,” Coughlin said. “This [work in practice] was to get him going and to be able to give him a week where he could maneuver and cover and so on and so forth, without any real contact. He’s had a nice week of that, and we’ll continue.”