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It is unwise to rush healing players, even premier players, back onto the field for a regular-season opener, and the Giants know all too well what’s most important is not how they start but how they finish. Still, it will be difficult to be patient with pass-rusher extraordinaire Jason Pierre-Paul coming off back surgery.
Let the countdown begin for Pierre-Paul, who underwent what the Giants termed successful surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back Tuesday morning in Los Angeles. The Giants say the recovery time is approximately 12 weeks, which would bring him to Aug. 27 — 12 days before the Sept. 8 season opener in Dallas. The clock is ticking.
“The hope is he will be ready before the season starts,” said a source with knowledge of Pierre-Paul’s surgery and expected recovery.
Why did Pierre-Paul wait this long? He was not in attendance last week for organized team activity practices, clearly sorting through all non-surgical options before relenting and having the procedure.
There’s no way to tell at this point whether Pierre-Paul, a fearsome pass-rushing defensive end when healthy, will make it onto the field for the opener. He faces a relentless rehabilitation for a back ailment that hampered him last season, when he often played in pain and discomfort. The surgery does explain Pierre-Paul’s alarming plummet in production in 2012, when he recorded 6.5 sacks after having 16.5 in his breakout 2011 season.
The procedure, a microdiscetomy — the removal of the herniated lumbar disc — was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins, an orthopedic spine surgeon, at Marina Del Rey Hospital in California.
Former NFL linebacker Willie McGinest told the NFL Network he had the same surgery, performed by the same doctor, as Pierre-Paul and was ready to return in 6 1/2 weeks, though 12 weeks is more common.
“Jason has been experiencing lower-back pain the past couple months,” said Ronnie Barnes, Giants senior Vice President of Medical Services. “He has managed the discomfort with treatment and core strengthening exercises.’’
Barnes said Pierre-Paul was examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery last week, and it was decided the corrective procedure was “the most prudent course of action.’’ Watkins concurred Tuesday after examining Pierre-Paul.
This is serious business for the 24-year-old Pierre-Paul. He will begin training camp (the first practice is July 27) on the physically unable to perform list, with the hope he can gradually move closer to the field during the latter stages of the preseason.
“I am just glad he is getting it taken care of now because 80 percent of JPP is better than a lot of people at 100 percent in this league,’’ safety Antrel Rolle said on the NFL Network. “To get him at 100 percent, he is definitely going to play off the charts and I am eagerly anticipating him getting back with us.”
Watkins offered no promises for Pierre-Paul’s availability for the opener.
“The timing of his return to football will depend on his response to the rehabilitation program,’’ Watkins said. “We anticipate a full recovery.’’
Pierre-Paul has had back spasms from time to time since arriving to the Giants as a 2010 first-round pick out of South Florida. He has not missed a game in his three-year career. According to reports, Pierre-Paul received multiple epidural injections last season to allow him to be ready for game days.
“My back has been bothering me for a while, and even last season I played through some back issues,” Pierre-Paul said. “The treatment I’ve been doing has helped manage the issue, but this procedure is going to get me fully healthy and there should be no more pain. I’m going to do everything the doctors tell me to do during my rehab so I can be back playing the game I love at a high level as quickly as possible.”
This injury and surgery puts to the test the Giants’ long-standing belief they never have enough pass rushers. Justin Tuck remains at left defensive end, but without Pierre-Paul for the summer, the Giants turn to veteran Mathias Kiwanuka. A natural defensive end, Kiwanuka is more comfortable on the line and was shifting back from linebacker this season even before the Pierre-Paul injury. Now Kiwanuka gets a chance to re-establish himself at his former position.The Giants desire a three-man rotation at end. They will audition several youngsters for a reserve role at right defensive end. They have Adrian Tracy, Adewale Ojomo, Justin Trattou and rookie third-round pick Damontre Moore but no proven depth now that Osi Umenyiora is with the Falcons.