Justin Tuck says Jason Pierre-Paul will be unaffected by loss of finger

Jason Pierre-Paul's former teammate Justin Tuck has told the New York Daily News he believes the Giants defensive end will be the player he was last year, even after losing a finger to a fireworks accident earlier this month.

Jason Pierre-Paul's former teammate Justin Tuck has told the New York Daily News he believes the Giants defensive end will be the same player he was last year, even after losing a finger to a fireworks accident earlier this month.

Tuck, who is now with the Raiders, spent four years on New York's defensive line with Pierre-Paul, and said his game is unlikely to be affected by the missing digit.

"I think he will be [the same player he was before]," Tuck 

said

at a charity golf event to benefit

Newark's Mentoring Movement

. "I think once he gets used to playing again, then yeah [he'll be fine.] You can't deny his athletic ability. He's a terror to block.

"Hopefully everything else is healthy around him," he added. "If that's the case, I see no reason he won't be the JPP of the second half of the season last year in this coming year."

Pierre-Paul started all 16 games at right end for the Giants last season and had one particularly strong stretch in the final weeks, recording nine of his 12.5 sacks and 30 tackles in the season's second half.

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Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich also is confident his teammate will return to form after the injury.

"I've seen him do some ridiculous things with 10 fingers, I'm sure he's going to be able to do some ridiculous things with nine fingers."

The Daily News reportsPierre-Paul may miss all of the team's training camp and possibly some early season games due to the injury, which occurred as the five-year veteran was lighting fireworks to celebrate independence day at his home in Florida.