Jason Pierre-Paul and Giants finally agree to a one-year contract

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is finally back with the New York Giants.

The weird saga that started when Pierre-Paul suffered serious injuries to his hand in a July 4 fireworks accident took a major step on Tuesday when Pierre-Paul and the team agreed to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The two sides worked out a deal all of Tuesday after Pierre-Paul passed his physicals, the report said. Pierre-Paul was given the franchise tag this offseason, and didn't sign it before his fireworks accident hoping for a long-term deal. The accident changed the scope of the contract talks dramatically.

Now Pierre-Paul can start working to a return, but that might not happen right away.

The New York Daily News said before the contract was finalized that the Giants were hopeful Pierre-Paul could return by Nov. 29, which would put him on the field for the last six weeks of the regular season. The Daily News said that there was some thought Pierre-Paul could play by Nov. 15, but that returning after the Nov. 22 bye week was more realistic.

Rapoport said that the Giants will ask the NFL for a two-week roster exemption for Pierre-Paul, who could be practicing on Wednesday.

How effective Pierre-Paul can be during the Giants' playoff push remains to be seen. He'll have to adjust to playing with his injuries, which include the loss of at least one finger. But he has been by far the Giants' best pass rusher the past few years. The Giants are second-to-last in the NFL this season with just nine sacks, so whatever Pierre-Paul can provide will be a big plus for New York.

There are still many questions involving Pierre-Paul going forward, but at least he's back with his team.