Jenna LaineESPN Staff Writer Aug 26, 2023 9:32pm ET1 minute read
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are placing Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen on season-ending injury reserve for the knee injury he sustained in training camp last year, the team announced Saturday night.
“We will put him on IR. He’ll be ready for this year,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said on the WFLA television show. “The selflessness, the toughness, the leadership qualities he displays – we talked about that a few weeks ago. It was an emotional moment for me.” [coach] todd [Bowles] When we met with him, I knew for everyone involved. But it’s best for him.
Jensen, who has been the Bucs’ starting player since 2018, attended some training camps on a limited basis this year but did not attend any preseason games, prompting speculation he would be unavailable early in the season.
Jensen tore his cruciate ligament, cruciate ligament, cruciate ligament and meniscus and fractured his tibial plateau and cartilage. He missed the entirety of the 2022 regular season but did not require surgery and was able to play for the Bucs wildcard game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The concern with the surgery was that there would be scarring and loss of mobility. Instead, he focused on regaining range of motion and physical therapy. Jensen sought the opinions of five orthopedic surgeons before making this decision.
Jensen said of the game last month, “Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have played.”
He will be replaced by sophomore center Robert Hainsey, who started in his place throughout the regular season last year.