Jason Pierre-Paul Injury: Updates on Giants Star's Neck

Updates from Sunday, Sept. 14

Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News confirmed that Jason Pierre-Paul is active for Sunday's game:

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 10

Dan Graziano of ESPN passed along comments from Jason Pierre-Paul on his condition:

Updates from Tuesday, Sept. 9

Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News has an update on Pierre-Paul's neck:

Original Text

One game into the 2014 NFL season, the New York Giants may already be without one of their best defensive players. Jason Pierre-Paul injured his neck against the Detroit Lions on Monday night.         

The Giants announced that Pierre-Paul is questionable to return:

Pierre-Paul's pain was audible on the ESPN broadcast as the game returned from a commercial, showing trainers working on his shoulder, per Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke:

The 25-year-old was carted back to the locker room, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News:

Lisa Salters said on the ESPN broadcast that the cart was only used because of the proximity from where Pierre-Paul was to the tunnel. It was quicker and easier to just place him on the cart and drive him there.

He's since returned to the sidelines:

Salters added some encouraging news:

Bleacher Report's Will Carroll also wondered if New York was being extra cautious with Pierre-Paul following David Wilson's health problems:

Losing the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end would be a massive blow for the New York defense. Giants general manager Jerry Reese didn't mince words when talking before the season about Pierre-Paul's importance to the team.

"There are two guys on our team that have to play really well and it’s Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul," he said, per SI's Don Banks. "If those guys play well, I think we’ve got a chance to be really good."

Any absence for Pierre-Paul would leave a significant hole on the Giants defensive line and take a lot of bite out of their pass rush.

The NFC East is up for grabs, so the playoffs aren't out of the question for New York. Without Pierre-Paul, that task would become nearly impossible, though. Fortunately, it appears as though he has avoided a major injury.