Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason Pierre-Paul still in a neck brace

After a car accident in May, Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul is still currently in a neck brace as he recovers.

Edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul hopped on Instagram Live (@iamjasonpierrepaul) today showing off some moves, but in the video one thing sticks out. Leader in sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a year ago wants to play in 2019 and has intentions to do so, but is still in a neck brace at this point in his recovery from a car accident that left him with a fractured neck.

The accident reported occurred at the beginning of May, since then he has since declined to have surgery, which would have ended his 2019 season. According to The Athletic’s Greg Auman, Pierre-Paul intends to have his neck re-evaluated at the end of this month, backing right up to the start of the preseason for the Bucs.

While no doctors write for The Pewter Plank, still being in a neck brace two months after the accident does not seem like a good sign of recovery. However, the veteran pass rusher could be taking every precaution to preserve his neck so that it may be in the best possible condition when he goes in for his re-evaluation.

Pierre-Paul had a solid first season for the Buccaneers in 2018, and while the Shaquil Barrett and Anthony Nelson are newcomers who should help to soften the blow of his absence, he will still be missed on the field. He hit double-digit sacks for the first time in four seasons in the pewter and red with 12.5 sacks last season; he also tallied 16 tackles for loss and 20 additional hits on the quarterback.

At this point, November is the earliest that the Buccaneers are potentially expecting Pierre-Paul back in the lineup. Is the neck brace a precaution or is it a sign of a slow recovery and a potential reason to worry?