How many fingers does it take to bench press? For Jason Pierre-Paul, seven and a half fingers will do just fine.
On Sunday, Giants defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul, who blew off a substantial portion of his right hand in a fireworks accident last July 4, posted an Instagram video of him lifting weights with limited signs that the missing fingers are holding him back. Here was the caption:
And they said I wouldn’t be able to grip the bar and lift weights anymore. I’m getting better and I give all the glory to God. It’s going to take time, but I’ll be lifting more and no time. #90PowerCircle #90IsBack
Pierre-Paul is gripping the bar cast-free and lifting that weight with all the grace of a regular 10-fingered man who happens to be super strong.
After 12.5 sacks in 2014, Pierre-Paul recorded only a single sack in 2015 after missing the first half of the season while his hand (sort of) healed.
The defensive end, who re-signed with the Giants this month, said last week that his hand “won’t be an issue” next year. Clearly the hand-and-a-half-man is making progress. Lifting weights today, sacking quarterbacks tomorrow?