TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul could miss the entire 2019 season because of a fractured neck.
Citing unnamed sources, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter tweeted Pierre-Paul suffered the injury in a single-car crash last week in south Florida.
Pierre-Paul is expected to visit neck specialists this week. Sources told Schefter the belief is Pierre-Paul will likely need surgery.
“As we stated last week following the news of Jason’s auto accident, our immediate concern was for both Jason and his passenger," a spokesperson for the Buccaneers said. "While Jason was treated and released in south Florida the same day of the accident, we wanted to ensure that our medical team had an opportunity to perform a thorough evaluation here in Tampa, and that process is currently ongoing.”
In 2015, a Fourth of July fireworks accident forced Pierre-Paul to have his right index finger amputated.
The 30-year-old defensive end is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Last season marked Pierre-Paul's first season with the Buccaneers. He became the first Buccaneers player to notch double-digit sacks in a single season (11.5) since Simeon Rice had 14 in 2015.
The New York Giants traded Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers for a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, which New York used on B.J. Hill. The two teams also traded fourth-round picks in the deal.
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