Football is a brutal business.
While fans of the game rejoiced this week as training camps opened around the league for the 2022 campaign, the brutality of the sport hit us all in the face Thursday morning. News broke out of Tampa Bay that Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen went down with an apparent leg injury, and needed to be carted off the field.
Reports out of Tampa Bay Thursday night were anything but optimistic, as it seemed the Buccaneers were bracing for the worst:
Buccaneers still are doing tests on the injured knee of center Ryan Jensen and hope to know more in next few days, but one source said this afternoon that it’s “not looking good”.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2022
Friday morning brought word that the team fears a season-ending knee injury for Jensen:
While the #Bucs await final word, the fear is Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen has suffered a season-ending knee injury, sources say. A likely frustrating end to his 2022.
Tampa’s options include internal — Robert Hainsey — or external — JC Tretter, Matt Paradis, Billy Price, etc.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 29, 2022
Thankfully, as noted there might be the perfect option available: Current free agent J.C. Tretter.
Despite his status as one of the game’s top centers, Tretter was released by the Cleveland Browns this off-season, saving the organization over $8 million in cap space. With Tretter available, he might be the answer to Tampa Bay’s prayers.
Here is why.