With Christian Izien Injury, Safety Now Has Little Depth
August 16th, 2025
Brutal week for Bucs’ safeties.
This week in Pittsburgh has been fun and productive for the Bucs. It has also been a trip to hell for Bucs safeties.
First, it was learned that Antoine Winfield has what Bucs coach Todd Bowles deemed an NHL-style “lower leg injury.” Please don’t let this be an ankle injury. He’s been wearing shorts since Wednesday.
Then, at the joint practice with the Steelers, promising rookie undrafted safety J.J. Roberts was carted off — yes, Joe saw it with his own eyes as the cart rolled right past Joe — with a knee injury.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said on the Buccaneers Radio Network prior to tonight’s worthless preseason game with the Steelers that Roberts is out for the year.
And now Christian Izien got hurt tonight. In the first half against Pittsburgh, Izien suffered what was deemed by the Bucs as an oblique injury. If that’s accurate, that usually means Izien will miss three or four weeks. Perhaps more.
So Izien likely won’t be available before Week 2.
Suddenly, in a handful of days, safety went from a strength to a massive hole on the depth chart.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Shilo Sanders a starter?
August 16th, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Winfield will play week 1. We will be fine .
August 16th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Looks like Sanders is making the team by default
August 16th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
At this point just forfeit the last game its freaking pointless they know who is gonna make the roster already
August 16th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
These guys practice all weeks without getting injured and like clock work, they get injured in games.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:39 pm
Waiver wire time.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:41 pm
Get ready for, “Fire Bowles!!!!” in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….
August 16th, 2025 at 9:45 pm
“Safety has little depth” If you’ve ever played golf this is called Par for the course.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
The Steelers are hitting hard. Like they are trying to take out an opponent that they most likely won’t play this year. I get trying to make the team but we have lost 3 players this week. Maybe that is why Baker was pulled from starting cause Todd Bowles saw what could happen.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:49 pm
It’s a Bucs life. What’s new, every single season we have mystery players in the secondary. It’s getting old and tiresome.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:49 pm
We’re so deep at corner and safety not too concerned about Izien (who I love) going down.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Other than the silencing mouth of Jerry Jones, the NFL’s most ubiquitous problem is the injury count.
Who is out and who is in this week is a daily reminder of the physical pounding associated with the sport.
All teams have injury’s and their team’s suffering is directly related to the importance of said injury. Injuries killed Detroit on defense last year, and the controversial injury to Godwin hurt the Bucs mightily.
Relating to the Bucs, with Izien out, what do we do?
For one thing, Licht won’t listen to any of us “well versed” JBF posters, especially if he wants to keep his job. “Pick up this guy. Trade for Parsons. Fleece the Bengals for Hendrickson …” Sure … Right … Money and the CAP be damned.
There’s an old saying, either perpetuated or created by the old (very old) coach, Marv Levy. To paraphrase, it goes something like this; “If you’re a general manager or head coach, and you find yourself listening to the opinion of the fans, you will soon find yourself sitting among them.”
August 16th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Walker and Roberts are both out for the season. JMac, Izien, Winfield, White, Wirfs, and Godwin are unknown injuries. Did I miss anyone?
August 16th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
As I wrote before, you sit Baker because the Steelers like to hurt people. In’s in
their DNA.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
Oh Morrison is injured too
August 16th, 2025 at 9:58 pm
Just saw that Walker is listed as out as well
August 16th, 2025 at 9:58 pm
I’d like to see Sanders get a shot to out perform his brother this year in the NFL
August 16th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Time to give Jordan Whitehead a call, see if he’s in shape, recovered from the car wreck.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:12 pm
We still have our top graded Safety from last season (Kaevon Merriweather). He can really ball, l think he’s a keeper
August 16th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
Man Bazelak is balling Jesus! Bridgewater had a nice night. Trask to the practice squad 3/10 for 19 yds😄😄
August 16th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
IrishTony Says:
August 16th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
Man Bazelak is balling Jesus!
——-
Did you actually watch the game, or just look at the box score?
Ballzsack was throwing the same crossing route over and over, and when he wasn’t throwing that, he was missing guys who were absolutely wide open.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:24 pm
I hope he will heal there’s 3 weeks before the season starts an we don’t know how bad he’s injuries yet either but we have 3 weeks to get these guys rested an healthy for the season so let’s go Bucs
August 16th, 2025 at 10:31 pm
IMO – there should be a competition for QB#2. Trask looks slow and indecisive. Off topic I realize.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Now we know why Deion has been low key with the bucs.
He hired a Voodoo priest.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:01 pm
Fire Todd Bowles!
Wasted Super Bowl year incoming.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:32 pm
We have the worst training and medical staff in sports.
August 17th, 2025 at 12:23 am
I have appreciated your hard work since your site started the first year from Chicago and I recently moved and bought season tickets. Thank you! I wish people that give you crap and understand that. They have their opinion and disagree with your opinion, instead of acknowledging your hard work. Jealousy. Thank you again!!!
August 17th, 2025 at 12:44 am
WRs and DBs dropping like flies.
It appears we will have our normal Bucs luck and be cursed with injuries again this season.
Tempering expectations now…
August 17th, 2025 at 12:45 am
If we had 4 Jacob Parrishes playing all 4 of the DB positions, we would be set. Man, that guy is a stud. He looks life the best player on our D already.
August 17th, 2025 at 4:14 am
Trask looks disjointed. His body looks awkward and disconnected like he hasn’t gotten stronger or faster in 4 years.
Teddy looked like a Jedi. Teddy looked like an NFL QB.
Trask needs to be cut. I don’t want a 3rd QB. We need an extra WR or DB.
Teddy had some amazing throws! He’s our backup!
August 17th, 2025 at 5:11 am
What’s up with these ‘obliques’ – they been ‘hanging out’ too much with the Rays Players (&/or) Training Staff, lately!?
August 17th, 2025 at 6:44 am
Braswell!!
August 17th, 2025 at 6:49 am
man, some of the people in here sound ridiculous. the guy saying injuries are getting old and tiresome, well don’t watch football. maybe pickleball or golf is more your speed. shuffleboard? people get hurt in football on the daily. long as Winfield is back by week 1 and Meriwether along with the two rookie corners stay healthy, we’ll be fine until we healthy. let’s rest up and get ready to start 1-0 with a headstart in the division. #SIEGE #KREWE #KINGSOFTHESOUTH
August 17th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Sanders fan bois will be happy
August 17th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Figures. Buc Luck bit one of my favorites, Izien. Oh well, at least it’s early in the season. One factor that does not get mentioned much if at all is climate change. All 32 teams play and practice outdoors. Here in CFL, the heat and humidity are increasing. That has an effect on the human body. Also, the Steelers were getting away with a lot of overly (cough, cough) physical play. The Radio guys commented on it.
August 17th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Need to sign another vet safety asap. Bring back Whitehead, or go after Marcus Maye. Bowles drafted him so he should be familiar with the system.
Or Justin Simmons, he was just with Atlanta and could give us some great depth and intel on a rival. We have too much on the line this year, we have to shore up that depth.
August 17th, 2025 at 10:43 am
The defense is not going to stop a soul passing this year. Same as last year
August 17th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Morning Joe.well as we head closer to.opening day the Bucs injuries are mounting, that’s football, especially in the NFL. Back off the ledge. We will be fine. Luckly.it happened during camp & not after game 10. Like Buc u 84 pointed out, We still got some depth with talent left . I say give our depth & coaches a chance our Med. Staff will take care of them …I know it’s hard to hear but keep your cool. The Bucs will be fine . Just hope we dont.lise anymore Dbs. GOOOO BUCS!!!! ( the Bucs did still WIN the game, even though it means nothing, just sayin)
August 17th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Morning Joe.well as we head closer to.opening day the Bucs injuries are mounting, that’s football, especially in the NFL. Back off the ledge. We will be fine. Luckly.it happened during camp & not after game 10. Like Buc u 84 pointed out, We still got some depth with talent left . I say give our depth & coaches a chance our Med. Staff will take care of them …I know it’s hard to hear but keep your cool. The Bucs will be fine . Just hope we dont.lise anymore Dbs. GOOOO BUCS!!!! ( the Bucs did still WIN the game, even though it means nothing, just sayin)
August 17th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Players today barely practice anymore. They’re supposed to show up to camp in August already in shape. Not like the old days. Wait until after the first week when starters from every team drop like flies. And if they’re not injured, they’re really aching.
August 17th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
If you like unprepared football teams who come out flat for important games, if you love soft pass defense that gives up 360 yards a game, if you love a coach who challenges a play that went his way to give the other team a chance to get the ball, if you love watching Hassan Reddick drop into pass coverage, if you enjoy terrible tackling and players regressing right and left, if you thrive on watching the same mistakes made over and over and over, if you are a fan of poor situational football, I’ve got two half coaches for you.
And in this case, two halves make a quarter of that.
August 17th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
“We have the worst training and medical staff in sports.”
I’m not sure how this isn’t discussed more openly. Every team has injuries, including to key players and / or in bunches. But when it’s happening to ypu year in and year out, you have to dig a bit to find the problem.
August 17th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
Steelers are dirty. Have been for decades. Why play them in pre season unless you wanna go into the regular season down a few starters.?!!!!!?