Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul explains fireworks incident

On Monday, Fox Sports released an interview between Pierre-Paul and Fox NFL Sunday’s Michael Strahan in which Pierre-Paul explained what happened on the night of the incident and in the days following.

On Monday, Fox Sports released an interview between New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and Fox’s Michael Strahan in which Pierre-Paul explained the details of the July 4 fireworks accident that mangled his right hand.

Pierre-Paul’s index finger was amputated, and portions of his thumb and index fingers were also removed in surgeries following the incident. His career was considered at risk in the months that followed, but the 26-year-old has returned to play in six games for the Giants this season.

Pierre-Paul told Strahan that he had been throwing fireworks all night on the Fourth, but one firework exploded in his hand before he had the chance to throw it.

“The one I was holding. I thought it was a different one, but it wasn’t. And it just went off in my hand, right away,” he said.

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Pierre-Paul also explained that the rumors that he would not allow Giants staff to see him after he was first admitted to the hospital were false. He claims that the team came to see him at the original hospital he was taken to, but that he had been transferred before they arrived. Pierre-Paul said he was so heavily sedated that he did not know the team was there.

Despite the injury, Pierre-Paul said that he has not felt discouraged from playing football. In the games that he has played this season, Pierre-Paul has recorded 13 tackles and one sack.

The Giants (6–8) currently sit the third in the NFC East and still have a chance to win the division.