Ryan Jensen Will Not Play Week 1 Against Minnesota
August 22nd, 2023
Ryan Jensen
JoeBucsFan.com confirmed the bad news via multiple sources: Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen will not play Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Also, there are concerns at One Buc Palace that Jensen may not play again for the Buccaneers, as his injured knee has not responded the way Jensen and the team hoped following his return from injury against the Cowboys in the playoffs last season.
Joe was told Jensen isn’t necessarily contemplating retirement now but it’s understood that Jensen’s knee is not able to handle the rigors of a full season.
Sad times for the Pro Bowl center whose knee was wrecked during a training camp snap last July.
Coincidentally, perhaps, Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield was training camp roommates with three offensive linemen this summer — tackles Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke and returning starting center Robert Hainsey. So it seems Mayfield will have a strong bond with his center on opening day.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:23 am
We need to injury settlement Jensen and move on. He’s old with a bad knee
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:26 am
Seems like it won´t be just 1 game…..
Tough spot for the GM…And all of us who love Jensen..
Sad news…..
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:27 am
Jenson will probably end up on IR for the first 4 weeks. Which means he will make the final 53 man roster then will be put on IR…
The Bucs have a week 5 bye this season – which will give Jenson until week 6 to get healed up and ready to play.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:28 am
He helped get the bucs super bowl trophy and is an ABSOLUTE WARRIOR but it may be time for Licht to make the hard call here. Wonder if Jensen did the knee stem cell deal due to Brady as opposed to the operation? He does the operation he is more than likely the bucs starting center now.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:29 am
Yeah we all knew that. His career is over. Don’t know who tried to convince him not get surgery after the injury but they ruined his career.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:33 am
Yet another one of Licht’s Sweeny’s. Remember him? Money for nothin and chicks for free.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:33 am
Thanks Logan Hall. Pinhead.
Such a sad day.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:39 am
@ Sickoflosing
I’m not a real doctor but I play one on JBF… lol
But from what I have read if Jenson got the surgeries required to fix the multitude of injuries to his knee he would have been done playing football anyways.
So Jenson opted for the stem cell treatments instead…
He returned last season to play our final game against Dallas so I am hopeful he will be able to return and play after a brief stint on IR.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:42 am
This is just incredibly unfortunate. He’s guaranteed too much money to part ways with this early. But paying this much for someone who won’t play really hurts the team
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:43 am
Jensen is his own man. Brady had no influence on his decision to do that stem cell stuff. Brady had his shattered knee surgically repaired in 2008. And he took care of a MCL injury in 2020 surgically.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:47 am
Sadly to say…..there is a reason why most get surgery….Ryan decided not to and it doesn’t look good for him.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:49 am
stick a fork in him. I can not believe there has not been an injury settlement yet.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:53 am
I suspect his decision for non-surgical intervention will cause him to retire.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:59 am
@mike johnson, get a clue dude – he’s a world champion, loved by brady and set the tone up front.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Is there an option where Jensen can do the team a favor and retire or agree to an injury settlement? If so, and he just strings the team along with “I can’t play any time soon but I won’t retire” while we pay his massive salary sounds like a pretty big disservice.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Got him to resign for a massive contract just to coax Brady out of retirement. SMFH look how it all has played out
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Marine Buc Says:
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:39 am
@ Sickoflosing
I’m not a real doctor but I play one on JBF… lol
But from what I have read if Jenson got the surgeries required to fix the multitude of injuries to his knee he would have been done playing football anyways.
Marine Buc.
I know another poster clearly has said this a few times. I could not find an article to support that. As strongly as that was said by the other poster, I think it probably was true.
I just wonder if he put that into Bard or one of the other AI machines and it just fed him a fake news story. I understand that AI can do that now.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:04 pm
@ Boss
We owe Jenson $22.5 Million… If the Bucs cut him they will have to pay him that money regardless because it is all guaranteed signing bonus money.
That $22.5M will become dead cap money.
Jenson’s current base salary is only $1.16 million. So there is zero reason to cut Jenson at this point.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:09 pm
It’s unfortunate if he’s done, but that’s life. Useless to bitch about the contract, etc. If he retires, curious if the team spread out his cap hit or eat the whole thing next year.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:10 pm
I’m probably forgetting, but did he reinjure his knee in the Dallas game? I didn’t remember that happening. Then again, I’ve been trying to forget that game altogether.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:10 pm
The stem cell option gave him a chance to play football again had he opted for surgery he was told his football days were over. This has been reported. It didn’t seem to sink in to everybody. Especially all the ones who knew better than his actual Doctor.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:13 pm
@ geno
Maybe. None of us commenting here have all the information and it’s all just speculation.
However – at some point we need to trust Jenson and the decisions he has made.
It’s not like he hired a bunch of doctors and said – “ok guys what do I do to stay on IR for the 2023 season?”
Right?
Don’t you believe it’s probably more realistic that Jenson listened to all of the medical opinions – including his trainers and doctors at One Buc Place and then made an informed decision as to how to return to the field as soon as possible?
That makes more sense to me.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Sad and dumb at the same time.
Another dead cap penalty for next year.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:16 pm
@ DungyDance
He played the entire game. Nothing was reported on the injury after the game because the season was unfortunately over…
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:26 pm
SHOCKING…. Rolls eyes. He’s done their just waiting until this preseason is over he’ll go on pup then probably ir. It’s not surprising whatsoever who woulda thunk that tearing 3 major ligaments in his knee and not getting surgery would end his career?? Lol no lie I do feel bad for Ryan and I’m sure the stem cell will be better for him for life after football but that’s not a move you make if you think your going to keep playing. That bum Logan hall better show up because at this moment this is the biggest play he’s made.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:27 pm
@Mike Johnson
Ryan Jensen is in no way a “Sweeny” scenario, i think you met Sweezy. Jensen played at a high level and the Bucs signed him to a second contract. Sweezy on the other hand barely suit up for Bucs.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Who broke this news, Capt. Obvious?
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:40 pm
What Hodad said.
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:44 pm
And the award for dumbest comment on this thread goes to…
“Yet another one of Licht’s Sweeny’s. Remember him? Money for nothin and chicks for free.”
August 22nd, 2023 at 12:52 pm
Many elite athletes have chosen to get stem cell surgery (including Peyton Manning) and in some cases it was recommended by their orthopedic surgeon.
Jensen had a very serious knee injury. I’m sure that after consulting with multiple doctors he chose the option he believed would be best for his health going forward.
I loved having Jensen on the team; he played an important role on the SuperBowl winning team, and I’d love to have him back. But football is a game and ultimately he needs to do what is best for his health going forward.
August 22nd, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Well that sucks but I think we all felt that this may be the case. Given his age and if he now has to have surgery he is probably done. Obviously the Bucs already knew this was a good possibility, so let’s get a new starting center ready to play. Not sure where he stands overall but I think Jensen may have been one of the best if not the best center this organization has had.
August 22nd, 2023 at 1:15 pm
You guys that say he needs to retire to save the team money are idiots. The team owes him some guaranteed money, which he is due injured or not. It goes both ways. The team gets rid of players that are older or hurt and the players should get paid what their contract says injured or not. He should not retire just to save billionaires some money in a lost season anyways. Pay the man his $10 million, cut him, or put him on IR if he can’t play. Take the cap hit and thank him for his service. No super bowl without him. Be grateful and treat him with respect.
August 22nd, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Right on @Rob.
August 22nd, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Jensen was the Rock , leader of the O line, never gave up ..I wish him nothing but the best-but it is time for him to retire with that SB ring..All the very best to Big Red !!!
August 22nd, 2023 at 2:54 pm
Not mad at Jensen, played great ball. Might be one of the best Buc Olinemen ever.
August 22nd, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Let the guy rest as long as he wants, it’s not like this team is going to be any good.
August 22nd, 2023 at 3:15 pm
JoeBucsFan was sourced by Mike Florio, on this story
congrats Joe.
Make Jensen an o line coach and let him help build the next generation of oline
August 22nd, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Hey Marine Buc: Your patient’s last name is spelled Jensen.
August 22nd, 2023 at 4:10 pm
I think it’s probable that Jensen’s career is done. Hopefully Bucs find an adequate replacement.
August 22nd, 2023 at 4:16 pm
Can he juat get surgery and take the year off, be ready next year. Maybe not in Bucs uniform but to continue career. Sad to this it end like this, guy was the best C in the game when on imo
August 22nd, 2023 at 4:17 pm
guys, everything ive read, if Jensen had the surgery, his career would have been over right then and there. it wasnt an option except to retire. he wouldn’t have been back had he had the surgery
August 22nd, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Jensen’s the real deal. Let him heal some more and start him after the bye week if he can go for us. As someone else said, his base salary is low and it’s a $22mil cap hit if we keep or release him. Other than the roster slot, there’s no point in cutting him. Plus if he does recover, we can get something for the investment. We have other concerns to worry about and I trust the front office on this one.
August 22nd, 2023 at 5:43 pm
Time to apply common sense to this knee wound. It needs to get opened up, repaired, buckled back up. He needs to heal and maybe he can still find a roster next year. Otherwise, he is hurting us going forward.
August 22nd, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Good organizations let players go a year early not 2 years too late retirement settlement and move on
August 22nd, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Joe has written this many times. Jensen has been informed by doctors surgery will end his career and leave him with a permanent limp.
August 22nd, 2023 at 7:55 pm
Sad man that sucks
August 22nd, 2023 at 8:34 pm
Love the guy, but the odds are he’s totally done.
Got his last season with the GOAT taken away via this injury, and now even more.
Great player and human.
August 22nd, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Over/under on the team rushing for 50 yards?
August 22nd, 2023 at 9:57 pm
No reason to cut him or force him to retire. Both bad for the Bucs. Honestly if he sits the entire season and comes back full strength in 2024 that would be a boon for us. If he can fully recover he is still one of our best linemen. He has also played at LG and at tackle when he was with the Ravens, granted he wasn’t a starter back then but he has still done it. What’s the likelihood that both Hainsey and Mauch both end this season leaving nothing more to be desired at their positions? If we are lucky one of them makes the jump/shows real promise of being a solid lineman then Jensen fills in the other spot.
August 22nd, 2023 at 10:01 pm
Also not sure age will factor in as much here for three reasons. One, his first few years he didn’t play a ton so less miles on his body. Two, lineman can play well into their 30’s. Three, he has had no other significant injuries from what I can find on the internet so this injury (I know it’s major) isn’t compounding a previous injury.
August 22nd, 2023 at 11:57 pm
Joe has written this many times. Jensen has been informed by doctors surgery will end his career and leave him with a permanent limp. Sounds like someone who does not want to get operated on. Anyway IMO he should get another opinion and if that does not work then he is not worth keeping on the roster. Perhaps he needs to retire and get a knee transplant (called a total knee in health care lingo) well this problem will ssolve itself in a matter of time but he is gone to us. Bye Jensen, thx for the Superbowl!
August 23rd, 2023 at 1:02 am
It doesn’t matter how many times you explain to some people the facts they just repeat ‘he should’ve gotten the surgery.’ It just feels right to them. Facts be dammed. Why do I feel like it’s the same people who shout stop the steal and were scared of the jab. There’s always going to be a percentage of fools in any given society. What makes this different is that they are so proud of their ignorance.
August 23rd, 2023 at 6:32 am
The way our backups at center have looked we better be looking for somone at he cutdowns.
Go Bucs!