Jason Pierre-Paul to miss rest of regular season after hernia surgery

New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is going to miss the rest of the regular season after surgery to repair a sports hernia.

The 27-year-old old tweeted on Wednesday that he had surgery and was feeling well. Pierre-Paul sustained the injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The normal recovery time from hernia surgery is four to six weeks, so Pierre-Paul needs the Giants (8-4) to end a four-year playoff drought to play again this season.

After struggling last season following a July 4 fireworks accident that mangled his right hand, Pierre-Paul was starting to show signs that he was returning to the form that made him one of the league’s top defensive ends. He had 5 1/2 sacks in two games, and returned a fumble for a touchdown in games against the Bears and Browns.

“We know if we keep playing the way we are playing and keep winning these games, he is going to be back and on the field with us,” safety Landon Collins said of Pierre-Paul. “If we play like we are down and not come with it all, he is going to be down even more because we are not going to be in the playoffs.”

Etc.

Oakland Raiders rookie safety Karl Joseph will miss the showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs because of a toe injury. Nate Allen will start in his place in a showdown for the AFC West lead. Defensive tackle Stacy McGee (ankle) will also miss the game while linebacker Shilique Calhoun (knee) remains sidelined. Defensive tackle Darius Latham (ankle) practiced on a limited basis and is questionable. …

Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly has returned to the practice field for the first time since sustaining a concussion in the team’s Nov. 17 win against the New Orleans Saints. the five-year veteran remains in the league’s concussion protocol and his status for Sunday’s game against San Diego is still unclear. ...

The New York Jets signed running back Khiry Robinson, who was waived/injured in September, and promoted running back Brandon Wilds from the practice squad Wednesday. The team also claimed linebacker Arthur Brown on waivers from Jacksonville, waived/injured linebacker Julian Stanford and signed defensive lineman Claude Pelon to the practice squad. …

Cleveland Browns rookie safety Derrick Kindred broke an ankle during the team’s bye week and will miss the remainder of the season. Coach Hue Jackson did not divulge how Kindred was injured, but said Wednesday that it was not from doing anything “malicious.” … Minnesota Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer has received further clearance to travel with the team this weekend, following surgery to repair a detached retina. Zimmer said Wednesday that he’s “good to go” after his latest follow-up exam.