Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason Pierre-Paul may miss entire 2019 season

After being involved in a car accident a week ago, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul may miss the entire 2019 season.

Last week Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was in a car accident that was stated to have resulted in minor injuries. However today, Adam Schefter reports Pierre-Paul suffered a neck fracture, an injury which could turn out to be season-ending. He also states the Bucs defensive end will visit with the team doctors for a second opinion in hopes of better news.

Talk about dejavu for Tampa Bay; last year it was linebacker Kendell Beckwith who suffered a serious ankle injury in a car accident and still has not returned to the field, this year it is their leading sack leader from a year ago in Pierre-Paul. While awaiting news confirming he will miss the whole season, it does not look promising for the Bucs or for Pierre-Paul in 2019.

This off of the heels of the 2019 NFL Draft, where the Buccaneers opted for Louisiana State linebacker Devin White over Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen. Tampa Bay then waited until the fourth round to add a pass rusher in Iowa’s Anthony Nelson. In the words of Buccaneer fan and contributor for The Draft Network’s Trevor Sikkema,

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"“No way the Bucs didn’t know this was a possibility last week. Drafted three DBs before their lone DE and a kicker after that. Whew” (via Sikkema)."

The two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro Pierre-Paul was the only Buccaneer in double-digit sacks a year ago with 12.5; he also led the team in tackles for loss with 16. If he truly is out the full year, the Buccaneers will need to rely on the shoulders of Shaquil Barrett, Carl Nassib, Noah Spence, and the rookie Nelson to pick up the slack.

There is no news or updates yet on a contract clause which would allow the Buccaneers to move on from Pierre-Paul. His nearly half of his current contract of $7.5 million has been fully guaranteed, but if he misses time, the Buccaneers will be able to put him on the non-football injury list and are not obligated to pay him the remaining money this year.

For a team already shallow along their defensive front, the injury to Pierre-Paul is the last news the collective city of Tampa Bay wanted to hear. The Pewter Plank wished Pierre-Paul all the best and a speedy recovery.