When Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick was mocking the Giants for their boastful talk ahead of last week’s game, he made reference to Giants defensive end Jason Pierre Paul’s warning that Cowboys blood would be shed and asked if Pierre-Paul had even made a play during the 24-21 Dallas victory.
Pierre-Paul had one tackle, which isn’t quite enough to put any egg on Scandrick’s face. Even that modest level of production will be more than Pierre-Paul can handle this week.
He has been ruled out of Sunday night’s trip to Washington along with three other members of the Giants, adding to a disappointing and injury-plagued season for a player who flirted with dominance on the way to the Super Bowl in 2011. His current shoulder injury comes on the heels of back surgery over the summer that left Pierre-Paul at considerably less than full speed in the first months of the season.
The Giants defense will also be without cornerbacks Trumaine McBride and Corey Webster. Webster’s absence is no surprise as this will be the eighth game of the season that he’s missed and fourth in a row, raising the question of whether the Giants might be better off placing him on injured reserve and giving the roster spot to someone capable of helping them this season.
Running back Brandon Jacobs is also out while wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is probable to play after missing last week’s game with an abdominal injury.