Surgery idles Pierre-Paul

Giants must finish regular season minus standout DE.

The New York Giants won’t be able to replace defensive end Jason PierrePaul in the final four games of the regular season. The 27-year-old just does too much for one guy to step in.

He stops the run. PierrePaul pressures the quarterback. He also has a unique ability to make plays in situations when he is seemingly out of position.

The Giants (8-4) are going to be missing that talent for the rest of the regular season with news that Pierre-Paul had surgery Wednesday to repair a sports hernia.

The prognosis is for him to be out four to six weeks, which means a season in which he was in the running for Comeback Player of the Year will be over before he recovers. Safety Landon Collins has other plans.

The Giants currently have the best record in the race for a wild-card berth and they want to stay there and end the franchise’s four-year playoff drought.

“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,” Collins said of Pierre-Paul.

Pierre-Paul was injured in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. He tweeted Wednesday that he was feeling well after surgery.

Rookie free agent Romeo Okwara took over at left end after JPP was hurt. He’ll probably start, but he will get help from veteran Kerry Wynn and second-year speed rusher Owa Odighizuwa in passing situations.

After struggling last season following a July 4 fireworks accident that mangled his right hand, PierrePaul was starting to show signs he was returning to the form that made him one of the league’s top defensive ends. He had 53 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown.

Vikings: Star running back Adrian Peterson said he’s rehabilitating from a torn meniscus to put himself in position to return this year, and that he envisions the Vikings (6-6) making the playoffs despite their recent slide. Peterson also said, however, that if the team is eliminated from postseason contention he wouldn’t come back and risk re-injury.

Meantime, coach Mike Zimmer received clearance to travel with the team this weekend, following surgery to repair a detached retina.

Panthers: Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly returned to the practice field for the first time since suffering a frightening concussion in the team’s Nov. 17 win against the Saints. Kuechly missed the past two games while in the league’s concussion protocol and his status for Sunday’s game against San Diego is still unclear.

Redskins: Left tackle Trent Williams was back at practice after serving a fourgame suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and his return could not have come at a more opportune time. Replacement Ty Nsekhe (ankle), starting left guard Shawn Lauvao (groin) and starting center Spencer Long (concussion/stinger) missed practice with injuries.

Rams: Quarterback Jared Goff missed practice with an illness, but coach Jeff Fisher is confident Goff will play Sunday against the Falcons. Goff attended team meetings but went home before workouts. Fisher said Goff picked up a virus that’s been going around the team.

Bears: Vic Fangio said he intends to return for a third year as defensive coordinator, denying a report that he might want out because of philosophical differences with coach John Fox.

Falcons: Practiced without star receiver Julio Jones and two other starters who were injured in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. Jones is bothered by turf toe, left tackle Jake Matthews has a knee problem, and receiver Mohamed Sanu a sore groin.

Browns: Rookie safety Derrick Kindred broke his ankle during the team’s bye week and will miss the remainder of the season.

GETTY IMAGES Jason Pierre-Paul (90) of the Giants had sports hernia surgery Wednesday, ending his regular season with 53 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles.