Surgery to Jason Pierre-Paul pushes Kiwanuka back into starting DE role with New York Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Mathias Kiwanuka is going back to being a defensive end for the New York Giants — and as a starter.

Kiwanuka was thrust into the starting job earlier this week when Jason Pierre-Paul had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.

Starting isn't anything new for Kiwanuka. The question for the former Boston College star that was the Giants' first-round pick in 2006 has always been where. He has 62 career starts — 31 as a defensive end and 31 as a linebacker.

There is no doubt Kiwanuka is a better defensive end, but the Giants have had a plethora of ends with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Pierre-Paul. As a result, Kiwanuka took one for the team and used his versatility to play linebacker.