There will be players lining up at left defensive end for the Giants on Sunday night against the Cowboys and for the remainder of the season. Whoever they are, they will not be Jason Pierre-Paul, and they should not try to be.
“You don’t want them going out there thinking they have to be the next JPP, because they’re not,’’ defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins said. “Just be who they are and do their job.’’
If the Giants are going to build on their strong season and make it into the playoffs for the first time since 2011, they are going to have to do it without Pierre-Paul, one of their most indispensable players.
In a development that sent shock waves through the entire organization, Pierre-Paul underwent surgery Wednesday morning to repair a sports hernia, as well as a groin injury he suffered in the second quarter of last Sunday’s 24-14 loss in Pittsburgh. The surgery ends Pierre-Paul’s regular season. The recovery time is expected to be at least six weeks, meaning Pierre-Paul will not be ready for the first round of the playoffs (if the Giants qualify) and, most likely, not until the NFC Championship game, at the earliest.
“We’re just going to support JPP any way we can,’’ coach Ben McAdoo said. “Whenever he gets back, we’ll be ready for him.’’
Where will the Giants (8-4) find themselves by the time Pierre-Paul is healed? They have to try to hang onto their NFC wild-card spot without him.
The Giants hoped rest and rehab would be enough for JPP, but after a visit in Philadelphia on Tuesday with Dr. William Meyers, a noted sports hernia surgeon, a determination was made that surgery was the best option. Meyers performed the surgery in Philadelphia.
Pierre-Paul took to Twitter to report, “Surgery went well and feeling way better already. God is good.’’ A second tweet said, “Time to heal up.’’
The combination of third-year Kerry Wynn, rookie Romeo Okwara and second-year Owa Odighizuwa will attempt to take Pierre-Paul’s place, with perhaps a little of linebacker Devon Kennard thrown in. McAdoo called it “an all-hands-on-deck approach to fill his shoes. It won’t be easy to do, but we have confidence in the players in the room.’’
Pierre-Paul was putting together a season worthy of Comeback Player of the Year attention. He has seven sacks — 5.5 in a recent two-game surge against the Bears and Browns — and has been his usual ball-chasing self against the run. His star-power form had returned, something that did not always appear possible after his horrific July 4 fireworks accident in 2015, an accident that left him with 3 ¹/₂ fingers on his right hand.
“It’s definitely very tough,’’ Odell Beckham Jr. said, “especially coming from a guy that has come from hell and back, in my opinion. It’s unfortunate, especially with what he’s already been through and what he’s been able to overcome already. It’s incredible enough. We all wish he was here.’’
Wynn, with seven NFL starts in 2015, is the most experienced of the replacements. Okwara, undrafted out of Notre Dame, might be the most versatile, and Odighizuwa probably has the most upside. He is dealing with a sprained knee and was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday.
“At this point we know JPP’s not going to be out there with us,’’ Odighizuwa said. “I really wish he was out there with us. I love him, he’s a great dude. He’s one of our leaders and any time one of your leaders goes down it’s hard. It’s the nature of the sport and the next man has to be ready.’’
The challenge for the Giants is to move past this loss in time to deal with the Cowboys (11-1), owners of the best record in the league.
“I didn’t feel like the balloon had been burst or anything like that,’’ defensive tackle Jay Bromley said. “He’s a big part of our success but we’re a confident group, we’re a resilient group and our season is far from over. We’re 8-4 man, this ship is still rolling.’’