Jason Pierre-Paul says his new glove-hand is not going to be a problem unlike the club he wore last year. Photo by Andy Lewis/ contrastphotography.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jason Pierre-Paul continues to insist that the NFL’s most talked-about right hand will not hinder him in games this season.

“My hand feels like my left hand, just missing a couple fingers,” Pierre-Paul said today.

Not everyone would be so nonchalant about absent fingers, but the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end has learned to live without them. And he provided further evidence today that he is moving steadily forward as he made one of the notable plays in the Giants’ competitive two hour-plus practice. He scooped up a ball that either slipped or was knocked from Eli Manning’s hand and ran the length of the field for a touchdown.

Just as he does on virtually every other subject, JPP refused to get too excited about the play.

“Just made a touchdown, that’s it,” he said. “I was tired as hell but I was okay … Coach Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) always teaches to get the ball, no matter what. So I saw the ball and picked it up.”

No one seemed certain, or was willing to admit, how the ball hit the ground in the first place. Defensive end Olivier Vernon appeared to knock the ball from Manning’s hand to set up JPP’s recovery, but responded with an evasive, “something like that” when the scenario was presented to him.

Coach Ben McAdoo said he wasn’t sure, either.

“He (Manning) may have gotten bumped and the ball may have slipped out of his hand or got knocked out of his hand, I am not sure why,” McAdoo said. “We will have to take a look at the tape. I had my eyes on the coverage.”

The big takeaway from the play is that Pierre-Paul is in peak condition and determined to reclaim his standing as one of the NFL’s very best defensive ends. He took a painful detour last year after seriously injuring his hand in a July 4 fireworks accident. JPP had offseason surgery that enables him to wear a glove instead of a club, an improvement that allows him to use the hand more on the field.

If only he didn’t to have answer questions about it. The hand clearly is not Pierre-Paul’s favorite topic of discussion.

Asked how his hand is “holding up” in live contact, JPP said, “What do you think? I’m out there running and banging people, so I feel good.”

Pierre-Paul is more concerned with developing cohesion on the defensive line, which includes two newcomers in Vernon and tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison.

The first group also includes tackle Johnathan Hankins. The foursome has worked well throughout training camp.

“We still have time,” Pierre-Paul said. “It’s still the beginning. We still are trying to get that chemistry with guys. But just putting on the pads and going out there and hitting and giving a little bump to the offense, it’s good. But it’s just the beginning.”

The sidebar to the defensive line story is the re-acquaintance of Pierre-Paul and Hankins, who two years ago started 16 games next to each other as the right end and tackle. Last year, JPP missed the first eight games as his hand recovered and he worked himself back into shape. He returned to take his familiar spot next to Hankins on Nov. 8 at Tampa Bay. But in the first half of that game, Hankins tore his pectoral muscle, an injury that forced him to miss the rest of the season.

“It happens in football, but me and Hank, we’re a good team, we’re a (combination), basically,” Pierre-Paul said.

In this camp, Pierre-Paul has spent much of his time at left end next to Harrison. But he is developing chemistry with both his old partner and his new one.

“It’s just the communication,” he said. “You have to learn how the guy next to you plays. I think that’s why I do a great job of learning how Snacks or Hank rush, or Kerry Wynn. It’s just basically learning. That’s what I do best, learning my guys and then I’m okay. I know if I have to be in the A-gap and I’m running the exit or something, I’m going to be there and I know that Hank is going to wrap around then and possibly get a sack or something.”

Pierre-Paul admitted his progress has not yet placed him where he wants to be. But he didn’t anticipate reaching his destination on Aug. 6.

“I’m getting there,” he said. “I’m getting there, still trying to rush the passer, play the run, get my blocks right, communicate with Hank or Snacks, whoever lines up with me. If we’re running the game or something, let them know, it’ll be different and that’s basically what training camp is all about. Otherwise, I feel okay.”

Considering what he’s been through, that’s more than good.