The NFL was rocked by one of its first potential major injuries of training camp early on Thursday, when Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen was carted off the practice field with an apparent knee ailment.
Jensen, a Pro Bowler for the first time last season, has been an anchor of the offensive line that has protected future Hall of Famer Tom Brady since Brady's arrival in Tampa Bay two years ago.
While the severity of Jensen's injury was not immediately clear, journalists covering the team thought it did not look good. ESPN's Jenna Laine, for one, noted that the notoriously tough Jensen initially resisted assistance in coming off the field before conceding to being carried off in the cart.
The ramifications for the Bucs, and more specifically, Brady, are obvious. No team wants to lose a starter, period, but Tampa Bay can ill afford to be without one of Brady's most important protecters up front.
Brady has never been anything more than functionally mobile in the pocket, but at age 44 (he turns 45 next week) and with multiple knee surgeries in his medical history -- including one shortly after his triumph over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV -- he is statuesque at best at this juncture of his career.
Compounding matters is the fact that the Bucs' offensive line saw something of an overhaul in the offseason, particularly up in the middle, with starting left guard Ali Marpet retiring and starting right guard Alex Cappa moving on to the Cincinnati Bengals.
For evidence of Brady's apparent vulnerability, look no further than January's playoff loss against the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams, when he was sacked three times for 21 yards, was hit at least six times, and was under fairly consistent pressure by Los Angeles' fierce pass rush. The seven-time Super Bowl winner was even bleeding from the mouth at one point after absorbing a big hit from Von Miller, and had his left knee rolled up on from behind by Ogbo Okowonkro.
No quarterback enjoys being pressured in the pocket, which typically leads to relatively poorer decisions and execution, and Brady is no exception. But especially at his advanced age, Brady can ill-afford to be taking big hits and constantly ducking oncoming defenders in 2022.
The living legend reportedly tried to force his way out of Tampa amid his short-lived retirement during the offseason, and if he's forced to play behind a patchwork offensive line this season, he may end up wishing a move had come to pass, or that he'd hung 'em up for good.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram