Jason Licht Reveals Injured J.J. Roberts Was Likely To Make Roster
August 18th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht
Somber note Saturday in Pittsburgh stemming from Bucs undrafted rookie free agent safety J.J. Roberts leaving Thursday’s practice field on a cart, one that drove right past Joe.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht announced on the team’s radio network that Roberts will be placed on injured reserve and is done for the 2025 season.
“Unfortunately. because we were really, really excited about him,” Licht said, adding Roberts “probably would have made the team.”
Reports have said Roberts blew out his knee.
Further expressing his exctiement for the rookie out of Marshall University, Licht said a 2026 “silver lining” will be getting back Roberts and David Walker, this year’s fourth-round pick. Walker tore his ACL in July before every putting on pads.
Roberts was impressing in camp for his versatility and speed. He made a couple of plays in the Bucs’ preseason opener against the Titans.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:24 am
No doubt he was playing lights out. Hopefully they bring him back next year.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:25 am
he was a ballhawk for sure. tough loss
August 18th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Kind of a blessing in disguise for us personnel-wise. Means we don’t have to let Roberts hit the waiver wire. While on IR the safety won’t count against the active roster/PS, BUT he counts against the cap which is a drop in the bucket.
So like David Walker, we can hold Roberts for next season and not only allow him to rehab, but come back a year smarter and trained back up. Short-term it sucks, long term we’re up in 2026.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:29 am
There bad luck and Buc’s luck. Not sure which is worse. Going into the season with all these players injured or on IR seems to be the norm for the Bucs. Time to bring in some mystery players from the cut downs.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:30 am
He will be a year of rehabilitation, diet and weight training, film and meeting studying.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:33 am
LV- That’s the bright side for sure. And yes, a small upside is it makes roster considerations slightly easier. If we have a strong draft next year we will have him and Walker added to that draft class. Small favors.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:37 am
What a bummer. Football is a brutal sport.
– Godwin
– Wirfs
– Winfield
– McMillan
– Roberts
– Izien
– Walker
– A. Walker
I can’t wait for preseason to be over.
Four starters and another four members of the 53 man roster are out already.
I understand half of them will be returning at some point but this is really frustrating…
August 18th, 2025 at 9:38 am
It’s a brittle Bucs life.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:46 am
It’s a Bucs life.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Buc Luck. Well, as a fan you get used to it.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:10 am
get well soon fellas
GO BUCS!!!!
August 18th, 2025 at 10:12 am
I don’t understand how they play all of collage an not get injured but they blow ACLs an Knees in practice it sucks is this a hydration thing or a heat related
August 18th, 2025 at 10:32 am
“BUT he counts against the cap …”
Let’s get some further context. He will not count against the cap.
Roberts had the lowest contract in the NFL and only the top 53 (or some number like that) count against the cap — so essentially putting him on IR will not actually count against our cap at all.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:51 am
Geno, I didn’t mince words on purpose, players on IR still get paid. It’s not a need more context thing, it’s a fact about injured reserve and how much we pay Roberts while he’s on IR is up to his contract language.
Might not get the full amount that’s under $1M, but he’ll get the $300K guaranteed while on IR, thus the “drop in the bucket” part you left out of the quote.
August 18th, 2025 at 11:07 am
Wish him well
August 18th, 2025 at 11:12 am
I’ve seen so many people say how unlucky we are with injuries and/or that our staff should be held accountable in some way.
Have y’all not seen that this happens to every team every season?! This is football. This is expected.
You just hope for the best and hope that those that do get injured aren’t your cornerstone players…but know it happens consistently.
August 18th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Getting them both back next year, smarter and stronger with a much better understanding of the Defense is like getting two extra picks in the draft but these guys were already proving they belong, so that can free up the Bucs to really get value in next year’s draft.
Gotta find a positive in this injury mess.
LFG BUCS!!!!!
Fire them CANNONS
August 18th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Sounds like Shilo will definitely make the team now. I hope he’s ready.
August 19th, 2025 at 6:00 am
Them being like ‘extra draft picks’ next year is in no way a silver lining. We would have them next season anyway. It just sucks big time. No need to sugarcoat it.
August 19th, 2025 at 6:38 am
Ouch! Even more depressed about it now! Dang!
Go Bucs!
August 19th, 2025 at 6:45 am
They should’ve signed Justin Simmons instead of this dude from Tennessee. They just don’t wanna spend anymore $$$$.
August 19th, 2025 at 6:46 am
Any of the guys who were not gonna make the 53 injured besides Watson and Pratt? crazy how it seems that only the guys we wre counting on are hurt.
Wow!
Go Bucs!