Jason Pierre-Paul is back.
The New York Giants announced Sunday afternoon the pass rusher is active and will play against the Buccaneers.
It was a move that has been expected this week after returned to practice. The pass rusher missed eight games following surgery to , stemming from .
Last week, worth up to $8.7 million. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the incentives were based on Pierre-Paul playing seven games. Returning to the field Sunday means he'll have eight games to reach those goals.
Coach Tom Coughlin .
" is in outstanding physical condition so we feel good about accelerating him along," Coughlin said Wednesday.
Pierre-Paul has been confident about playing this week and believes he will be even better than before suffering the devastating hand injury, saying, "there's nothing I can't do."
Regardless of how much he plays, Big Blue is in desperate need of a playmaker like . The Giants rank last in the NFL in sacks, total defense and pass defense.
Pierre-Paul compiled 12.5 sacks in 2014.
In a corresponding move Saturday, the Giants waived defensive tackle Louis Nix. They also placed linebacker Jon Beason on season-ending injured reserve. This will be the fifth time in six seasons that Beason will play no more than five games.
