Jason Pierre-Paul has said that he will not resume practice before he has fully recovered from his off-season back surgery.
The New York Giants defensive end underwent a procedure in June, having sustained a back injury towards the end of the 2012 NFL season.
The 24-year-old told the Giants' website: "At the end of the day, you know that your coaches and general manager and head coach want you out there, to help the team out, but it's all on me.
"I'm focused on coming back 100%, not being like 85%. And I know I'm going to be a big factor of the defense, so I'd rather come back 100% and that's it.
"I'm going to have to get a couple practices in before, if, I decide to come back before the first game. I already know I'm going to be taking on two guys, double team, triple team maybe, so I'm not in a rush to come back and put myself in that position."
The Giants play the Dallas Cowboys in the first week of the regular season.
