New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul underwent a microdiscectomy to repair a herniated disc in his lower back in early June. The procedure — performed by Dr. Robert Watkins Sr. of Marina Del Ray Hospital — was deemed a success and the team announced that “recovery and rehabilitation is anticipated to be approximately 12 weeks.”
That 12-week recovery and rehabilitation program should have the defensive lineman primed and ready to go for the season opener (Sept. 8) on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. But that’s being very optimistic and maybe, a bit unrealistic.
All bodies are different, of course, but severe back injuries should be handled with caution.
In discussions with Craig Santucci (a former safety at Trenton State, now The College of New Jersey), who went through the same microdiscectomy surgery, he emphasized his concern over the recovery process for a 275-pound NFL defensive lineman. He noted that even after the 12-week recovery period given by doctors and the team, Pierre-Paul could still be suffering severe pain and numbness ranging from his back, all the way up his arm to his fingertips and down his leg to his foot.
Santucci expounded upon these points in an article he wrote for GiantsRush.com:
After surgery, the pain is relieved because the nerve is no longer being pinched or pushed around. However, the other discs now must take the brunt of the load, causing a terrible amount of stress and pressure on the remaining healthy discs. So one might ask: how does a 275 pound defensive end crash into an offensive tackle, using his lower body for leverage and strength, and not crumble due to having his disc compromised?
Years removed from surgery to repair his injury — on a herniated L5-S1 disk — running, biking and working out are a “chore” for Santucci.
For Pierre-Paul, the same concerns are a reality. Every collision with an opposing offensive lineman will place an enormous amount of pressure on his back. And as one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league, he’s going to see a lot of focus from those opposing offensive linemen, which will only ensure that his back will be put through that punishment every Sunday once he is able to make his return.
There is good news regarding the 24-year-old’s recovery, though.
In a study by the Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine in Tokyo (via PubMed), doctors found that microdiscectomy surgery in athletes was “satisfactory” in its ability to return injured athletes to their original levels of athletic performance. 85.1 percent of athletes studied were able to return to original levels of sports activities within an average of “5.2 to 5.8” months after undergoing the procedure.
That time frame is nearly double what the team gave as a target date for Pierre-Paul’s return. While they are all hopeful for a Week 1 return in Dallas, the likelihood of that appears slim. In fact, it’s a long-shot.
What is quickly becoming the more likely scenario is to see JPP remain on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list once the regular season begins, with a return in Week 7 at home against the Minnesota Vikings. This will give him enough time to heal and prepare for the physical demands of a grueling NFL season.
There is a risk that the defensive end may never be the same again. But a study by Northwestern University researchers (h/t Fox News) shows that most NFL players who undergo back surgery are able to return to form with proper treatment. In one study, of 36 starting players that were treated with the surgery, 33 returned to their starting status afterwards.
Pierre-Paul’s recovery will require time and patience, two things the Giants must have in his situation. And that is despite the negative impact his absence will have on their faltering defensive unit.
Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.