Report: Bucs' Pierre-Paul could miss season with neck injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul suffered a fractured neck in a car accident last week that could prevent him from playing in 2019, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Pierre-Paul is visiting specialists this week to see if it's possible for him to play in the upcoming season, though it's believed that he will likely need surgery, Schefter added, citing a source. A procedure would come with a five-to-six-month recovery timetable, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.

It was previously unknown if the 30-year-old was injured in the single-car accident; he was admitted to hospital but subsequently released.

JPP wasn't cited for the accident, according to the Buccaneers.

"As we stated last week following the news of Jason's auto accident, our immediate concern was for both Jason and his passenger," general manager Jason Licht said in a statement on Tuesday. "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."

The two-time Pro Bowler shined in his first year on the Bucs' defensive line. He totaled 58 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 20 quarterback hits in 2018. He spent the first eight years of his career with the New York Giants.