JULY 29: Bucs really fear Jensen is out for the season, Rapoport adds. Todd Bowles confirmed Friday that the team’s starting center will miss a significant amount of time ( video links ). The new Tampa Bay HC did not say Jensen would miss the entire season, citing a possible timeline of several months.
The Bucs have already discussed bringing in a veteran, per Bowles, though Tampa Bay’s fourth-year staff said those discussions haven’t progressed too far yet. Hainsey, a Notre Dame right tackle who turned inside as a pro, is expected to get the first crack at replacing Jensen, according to Rapoport. Nick Leverett, a former UDFA who played in two games last season, is also in the mix.
JULY 28: A cart carted Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen out of practice Thursday, and the team is concerned about a long-term absence. The Bucs fear the recently signed snapper has suffered a serious injury, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report (on Twitter).
In fact, these reports usually precede bad news for teams. The Bucs just gave Jensen a second contract, a three-year, $39 million deal, to return as Tom Brady’s center. Testing is ongoing here, but a source told ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter that this situation “doesn’t look good” for the veteran blocker ( Twitter link ). Jensen is dealing with a significant injury, according to ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). His season is certainly in jeopardy.
Continuity on the offensive line played a big role in the Bucs’ surge to the Super Bowl LV championship, but the 2021 playoffs and this offseason have brought uncertainty to Tampa Bay’s front. This year has injected considerable change into the O-line, with longtime guard Ali Marpet retiring and the Bucs letting their other starter, Alex Cappa, leave the Bengals in free agency. An absence of Jensen would create a new problem for the Bucs, who will have the oldest starting quarterback in NFL history.
Jensen’s commitment to the Bucs came right after Brady’s; the ninth-year center re-signed with the team hours after Brady’s non-committal. Jensen has established himself as one of the best centers in the NFL, having gone from a sixth-round pick to using a one-year deal with the Ravens as a springboard to a deal with the Bucs in 2018. In that deal , Jensen didn’t miss a game. The Colorado State-Pueblo alum hasn’t missed a game since the 2016 season. Jensen, 31, made his first Pro Bowl last season.
Tampa Bay traded a Day 3 pick to acquire Shaq Mason, reuniting Brady with one of their longtime Patriots guards. But the team could soon be vulnerable at two guard positions. With interior O-line play vital to Brady-led offenses, the Bucs could be in need of another veteran reinforcement. While it’s early here, the center boasts an interesting and experienced free agent crop. JC Tretter, Matt Paradis and Trey Hopkins remain available.
For now, Robert Hainsey will take over at center, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Competing for the other guard spot with second-round pick Luke Goedeke and the recently signed Aaron Stinnie, Hainsey is a third-round pick in his second season. Tampa Bay quickly addressed the Rob Gronkowski void by signing Kyle Rudolph. If Jensen is expected to miss a substantial amount of time, it wouldn’t be remotely surprising for Tampa Bay to sign one of the top free agents.