Fansided

Report: Jason Pierre-Paul could miss 2019 season due to neck fracture

By Allison Cary

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 48-10. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Jason Pierre-Paul #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 48-10. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was in a single car accident last week. Now, he could miss the 2019 season.

Jason Pierre-Paul was in a single-car accident in South Florida on Thursday and ESPN is now reporting he may be out for the season with a broken neck.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive end was not cited, and was released from the hospital in Broward County on Friday. Immediately after the accident, general manager Jason Licht said that the medical staff would be evaluating Pierre-Paul.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Pierre-Paul said to have “suffered a potentially season-ending fractured neck injury.” Pierre-Paul will be visiting a neck specialist this week with the hopes of salvaging part of his season.

Obviously, Pierre-Paul’s health and safety should be the top concerns of everyone around him, especially with something as serious as a neck injury. But for the Buccaneers, Pierre-Paul’s absence on the field will surely be felt. He led the team in sacks last year with 12.5 and is the Bucs strongest pass rusher looking ahead to the fall season. Without him, the Buccaneers will have to look to younger, less-experienced players that may not be as reliable when it comes to pressuring the quarterback.

Pierre-Paul joined the Tampa Buccaneers in March 2018 after spending the first seven years of his career with the New York Giants. Pierre-Paul was a part of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots.

This is potentially the second major off-field accident of Pierre-Paul’s career. He also missed half of the 2015 season after a Fourth of July fireworks accidents in which he lost part of his right hand.

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