The New York Giants came away encouraged by meetings with, and medical exam of, injured defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul on Monday, according to two sources familiar with the situation. They anticipated speaking with his representatives by the end of Tuesday regarding contract details and a potential timetable for Pierre-Paul's return to the field.

The sources said the Giants were spending Tuesday reviewing the medical information they received Monday and formulating internal evaluations of Pierre-Paul's condition and readiness to play. The sources didn't expect any potentially complicating issues to arise during that evaluation but noted that Monday was the first time the Giants saw Pierre-Paul since the July 4 fireworks accident that cost him his right index finger and fractured his right thumb. For that reason, the team needed time to digest and process the information before proceeding.

When Pierre-Paul can return will be a joint decision by the team and the player, and the structure of his 2015 contract is tied into that timetable.

The Giants designated Pierre-Paul as their franchise player in March, but he has yet to sign his one-year, $14.813 million franchise tender because once he does, the team can put him on the non-football injury list and elect not to pay him for games missed. The NFI list requires a player to miss at least the first six games of the season, and because Pierre-Paul believes he'd be ready to play before then, he doesn't want to risk the Giants' designating him as NFI and withholding pay for games he could play.

So the Giants and Pierre-Paul's agents will need to hash out the financial details of what's guaranteed and what's not before he signs and returns to practice. That could happen within the next 24 to 48 hours if there are no unexpected complications.

Pierre-Paul is telling people close to him he feels good enough to play in Sunday's season opener at the Dallas Cowboys, but it's unlikely the Giants will agree. He has yet to practice in new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense, as he skipped all of OTAs and minicamp because of his contract situation.

But Pierre-Paul has been working to get back on the field.

ESPN's Ed Werder reported Monday night that Pierre-Paul has been working with defensive line coach John Blake on pass-rush technique. Pierre-Paul hired him after the July 4 accident, which means Blake has been tutoring him on pass-rush techniques with the hand in its current condition. That's a big part of the reason Pierre-Paul and his camp believe he'll be able to play with the hand in a wrap or some kind of protective device and still be effective.