Jason Pierre-Paul’s status for the Giants’ game Sunday against the Packers at MetLife Stadium is up in the air despite his participation in practice on Friday.
The defensive end, who suffered an undisclosed left shoulder injury in last Sunday’s victory over the Raiders, was limited but did take part in drills, coach Tom Coughlin said.
“He worked, he appeared like he did OK,” Coughlin said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”
Pierre-Paul said he is still “day-to-day,” but added he felt “pretty good.” He is listed as questionable.
“I still have three days left to make up my mind if I want to play or not,” Pierre-Paul said. “It’s how I’m feeling, how it is tomorrow, how I wake up.”
When asked whether he has full range of motion in the shoulder, Pierre-Paul tossed a towel into a nearby laundry bin like he was shooting a basketball. If he is unable to go, the Giants will likely rotate veteran defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins against the run and rookie defensive end Damontre Moore in pass situations in Pierre-Paul’s spot.
Against the Raiders, Pierre-Paul registered his first sack since Week 1. He has 18 tackles and two sacks in nine games after offseason back surgery cost him most of training camp, and may have contributed to his lack of production this year after racking up 27 ¹/₂ sacks his first three years in the league.
The Giants aren’t overlooking Packers third-string quarterback Scott Tolzien. The former Wisconsin standout, a journeyman with his third NFL team, completed 24-of-39 passes for 280 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his Packers debut last Sunday, a road loss to the Eagles. Green Bay didn’t change their system and Tolzien gets the ball out quick like injured starter Aaron Rodgers, outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. Tolzien was forced into action after Rodgers suffered a fractured left collarbone and backup Seneca Wallace injured his groin.
“Whether he’s first, second or third [string], we watched the film and on film he looked good,” cornerback Trumaine McBride said. “I don’t look at him as a third-string quarterback. He shows good poise, he shows confidence running that offense. He’s not scared to make throws and he has the arm to make throws.”
The rest of the injury report for Sunday’s game is as follows: Running back Brandon Jacobs (hamstring/knee) is questionable; cornerback Terrell Thomas (knee) and tight end Bear Pascoe (ankle) are probable; cornerback Corey Webster (groin/ankle) is out.
Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was a full participant in practice on Friday and is listed as probable after playing in his first game in a month last Sunday following right thumb surgery.