Pierre-Paul hopes to aid Giants in playoff run despite hernia surgery

Jason Pierre-Paul was declared out for the season when he underwent sports hernia surgery in early December. The New York Giants defensive end did in fact miss the final four games of the regular season, but he's got his sights set on returning in the playoffs.

"The deeper they get, the more likely I'm coming back," Pierre-Paul told Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post.

"The guys want me to come back and that makes me want to come back even harder than I did before. I'm doing the best I can to get back and hopefully I can get back before the last game."

The Giants visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs. Pierre-Paul plans to be on the sidelines cheering on his teammates for that game, but hopes to be doing even more the following week, saying he could be back on the field "maybe before" the NFC Championship game, should the Giants make it that far.

Initially, Pierre-Paul was given a six-week recovery timeline, which aligns with the week of the Divisional Playoffs.

"It depends on my health, but that's the hope," he said.

Pierre-Paul recorded 53 tackles, three forced fumbles, and seven sacks in 12 games this year. His seven sacks was good enough for second on the team.

As a member of the Giants' 2011 Super Bowl winning team, he has his eyes on expanding his ring collection.

"We want a ring," he said. "We've got an opportunity to put a ring on our fingers."