Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is expected to be placed on the reserve/non-football injury list, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.
Pierre-Paul, who sustained a cervical fracture during an offseason car accident, will not be eligible to play or practice until after Week 6 on Oct. 14.
The 30-year-old Pierre-Paul fractured the vertebra in a car accident on May 2 and has been on the non-football injury list since the opening of training camp. He was recently cleared to resume rehab activities.
The Buccaneers’ bye week is in Week 7 (Oct. 20), perhaps providing a window for Pierre-Paul to get ready before the Oct. 27 game at Tennessee.
Pierre-Paul led Tampa Bay with 12.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits last season after arriving via trade from the New York Giants.
He is expected to play more as a linebacker in defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme.