New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is playing in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his first game since a Fourth of July fireworks accident that caused him to lose part of his hand.
Pierre-Paul had been experimenting with a 4-fingered glove, made specially for him by the New York Giants' training staff. However, that glove is not being used as JPP has his hand wrapped in a "club," a form of soft cast.
Fox Sports
Here is a close-up view of the hand.
Fox Sports
Pierre-Paul told Fox before the game that he has never played with a club before, calling it "just one more adjustment [he has] to make."
This game comes just four months after the accident that cost Pierre-Paul his right index finger and parts of his thumb and middle fingers, and just two months after being released from a hospital.
The Giants unexpectedly moved up the star defensive end's timetable to return this past week with coach Tom Coughlin citing Pierre-Paul's condition.
"He's in outstanding physical condition," Coughlin said. "We're feeling good about accelerating him along. There's nothing unusual about it when a guy that's in the position that he's in is in the condition that he's in and prepares himself to play. That's what he's done."