“It Sucks”
August 26th, 2023
Center Ryan Jensen speaking to reporters Saturday night.
Weird scene in the Bucs’ locker room tonight.
Of course, several players were quite giddy after the sharp showing the Bucs had both from the starting offense to the backup defenders.
A short pitch to the outside from the lockers is the Bucs’ press conference room, where the mood was quite different. It was anything but giddy. It was like folks were at a wake.
Bucs center Ryan Jensen stood at the podium. The room was dead silent but for Jensen speaking low, fighting to keep his composure as he discussed tonight’s news that he’s being placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network suggested Jensen is not likely to play again. Joe’s report on this came out on Wednesday.
Jensen stood before the local pen and mic club, his voice cracking, explaining how much he wanted to be back on the field for the Bucs.
“I’m going to fight my butt off to play football again,” Jensen vowed. “All I want to do is play football. It got to a point a couple of days ago that a decision had to be made.”
Back in the locker room while being interviewed on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Mayfield was asked about the end to Jensen’s season and perhaps his career.
“It sucks,” Mayfield said bluntly. “There is no other way to say it. It sucks.”
If there was a silver lining, Mayfield noted that at least Robert Hainsey stepped in for Jensen and started 17 games last year.
Mayfield added that Hainsey has valuable snaps under his belt and isn’t stepping into a bad situation untested.
August 26th, 2023 at 11:10 pm
Hainsey will be alright. If Jenson wants to play next season he may want to consider surgery.
August 26th, 2023 at 11:12 pm
If Jensen was to throw in the towel and retire now, would that give the Bucs any cap relief? No. –Joe
August 26th, 2023 at 11:19 pm
Fixed it for you for accuracy.
August 26th, 2023 at 11:19 pm
Why would Jensen retire now if he can collect over 10 million per year for both this year and next year
August 26th, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Would love to see the Bucs transition Jensen to coaching
August 26th, 2023 at 11:34 pm
Get healthy Big Man. Worth every penny we ever pay him or ever will. He can and likely will still have an impact on the young guys we have now.
August 26th, 2023 at 11:34 pm
He’s got a thriving construction business (with locations in Colorado and here in the Tampa Bay area) where he likely makes more money than his offensive assistants and works half of the time.
August 26th, 2023 at 11:49 pm
When a guys career is on the line there is no bigger motivation than that. Until I hear him utter the words I’m retiring I expect he will work hard to come back next year but 2 years out of football is hard to comeback from.
Alex smith situation is different because he was a quarterback. For a guy in the trenches I’d say call it a career after you get your bag
August 27th, 2023 at 12:08 am
@Joe X
Yeah Joe but it (money) “may not” be the deciding factor or the point. And let’s be brutally honest. He Most Certainly has guys that can absolutely run it for him. PLUS he’ll still make millions as a coach. (Well if you add some years together and throw in inflation), And of course he stays in the middle of what he Loves! As well as Good Ole “Camaraderie”….. that he’s not going to get anywhere else. Too broken for the military so….
August 27th, 2023 at 12:42 am
Dude I’d an all pro center, him going down is a massive reason our line sucked last year… this sucks
August 27th, 2023 at 1:44 am
I can’t believe anyone is shocked by this. I said he was done about 2 weeks ago. He’s practiced one time in contact drills. Was obvious his knee wasn’t responding. I think he’s unfortunately gone the way of Carl nicks and Quincy black. It will come out next year he has to hang them up I’d bet matter a fact I’ll put it at a 5% chance he can make it back on the field. I really do wish him the best out of football.
August 27th, 2023 at 5:27 am
How much has Jensen made (or will make) with this contract on a per minute basis?
August 27th, 2023 at 5:28 am
Or better, per hour (working 40-hours per week). We can all relate better to that.
August 27th, 2023 at 7:33 am
He’s on the books till 2027 with dead money either way I believe injury settlement is the only way
August 27th, 2023 at 8:08 am
Thank you for the good times mr. Jensen. It wouldn’t have happened without you!
August 27th, 2023 at 8:28 am
How do injury settlements work?
August 27th, 2023 at 8:30 am
ChatGPT’s answer:
In the NFL, injury settlements are typically negotiated agreements between a player and the team when a player is released due to injury. The settlement amount is often a portion of the player’s base salary, which the team agrees to pay the player as compensation for the injury. This amount is usually determined by the player’s contract terms, severity of the injury, and negotiation between the player’s representation and the team. Once the settlement is reached, the player is waived and becomes a free agent, allowing them to sign with another team if they recover from their injury.
August 27th, 2023 at 8:45 am
Given his size and weight I honestly thought he should have had surgery right away. Sad situation now.
August 27th, 2023 at 10:12 am
Honestly, who thought he would make it through the year? Major injury, no surgery last year, and getting into shape and pounding this season? It was a pipe dream.
August 27th, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Honestly, it doesn’t look like Jensen is going to play another snap. As far as coaching…if he has two construction companies to run I don’t see him coaching either. Coaching is even more arduous than playing in many ways. The hours are brutal.
August 27th, 2023 at 7:03 pm
Honestly, it doesn’t look like Jensen is going to play another snap. As far as coaching…if he has two construction companies to run I don’t see him coaching either. Coaching is even more arduous than playing in many ways. The hours are brutal.