Jason Pierre-Paul’s status in question because of shoulder

Jason Pierre-Paul said Thursday he and his injured shoulder will be set to cruise into MetLife Stadium Sunday to take on the New Orleans Saints. Pump the brakes on that, coach Ben McAdoo said Friday.

“If we would have had practice today, he would not have practiced today,” said McAdoo, who didn’t reveal much about the defensive end’s injury. “We’ll take a look at him again tomorrow. He’ll have an opportunity to get out there on the field tomorrow at practice and we’ll go from there.”

The Giants and Pierre-Paul have not specified when he hurt his shoulder, though he did get some treatment during last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. He was a full participant in practice Wednesday, but did not practice Thursday and appeared on the injury report list along with defensive end Olivier Vernon (hand) Friday.

Asked if he was questionable for Sunday, McAdoo only responded: “He’s on the injury report list.”

“There’s always concern when someone is on the injury report list,” he added later, in a statement that applied to Vernon, but could as easily be applied to Pierre-Paul. In his stead, Kerry Wynn or Owa Odighizuwa could get the start.

McAdoo said that Pierre-Paul’s availability will be determined on Sunday morning, when the Giants see how he recovers from practice Saturday. The update appears to be a significant departure from what Pierre-Paul said Thursday, when he told reporters he was “not worried about [his] shoulder.”

“I’ll be out there Sunday,” he added. He did not speak to the media Friday.

‘Snacks’ steps up. Damon Harrison isn’t quite sure why his teammates listen to him so much, but McAdoo might have some idea after Harrison’s “inspired” speech to the defense on Friday.

“Very inspired,” McAdoo said. “ ‘Snacks’ gave a great talk to the defense . . . [He] cares about his teammates and the willingness to hold each other accountable is special on that side of the ball right now.”

After the defensive tackle’s sterling performance against the Cowboys last week, he was tapped by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to address the unit — something the Giants have made a weekly occurrence (they plan to pick a different player each week). The honor also speaks to how quick Harrison has ingratiated himself on and off the field; he’s only been a Giant since March.

“Coach Spags was asking me to do it because he said some of the guys respect my word and they look up to it,” he said. “I don’t know why. I just spoke from the heart . . . It was a little bit all over the place. There were some direct comments made to certain people, words about accountability.

“I’m very passionate in what I believe . . . and guys tend to buy into it.”

Added defensive line coach Patrick Graham: “Guys definitely listen to him. Shoot, I listen to him . . . You listen to the veteran players and you get an idea. Again, I always tell him, I didn’t play, so I can always learn from you.”

By Laura Albanese

laura.albanese@newsday.com@AlbaneseLaura

Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.