TAMPA, Florida. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen from injured reserve, making him eligible for Monday night’s NFC wild-card game against the Dallas Cowboys (8:15 ET, ESPN/ABC).
The Bucs had until 4:00 PM ET to activate Jensen, who was on day 19 of his 21-day practice window, to be eligible to play. Jensen returned to practice on Dec. 28 and was moving well, but the final hurdle was being cleared for contact Friday, a source told ESPN.
A source confirmed to ESPN that Jensen tore multiple ligaments in his knee, including his ACL, early in training camp. The injury, first reported by Fox Sports, has forced him to miss the entirety of the 2022 regular season. Jensen, known as “The Enforcer” on the Bucks’ offensive line, was expected to anchor a revamped interior that featured two new guards in rookie Luke Goedeke and Shaq Mason. But Jensen’s injury pushed second-year offensive lineman Robert Haynes, a college right tackle expected to compete for the starting left guard spot, into the primary role under center.
Haynes left the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 18 game with a hamstring injury and did not return, forcing starting left guard Nick Leverett to move to center and John Molchon to left guard in his first NFL regular season. Leverett suffered shoulder and knee injuries in that game but is officially questionable Monday night, while Haynes is questionable, meaning there are still questions about who will continue where.
Jensen did start at guard with the Baltimore Ravens, and that’s an option if Hainsey plays, while Hainsey has only played center as a pro. Goedeke started at left guard in Week 1 as well before suffering a foot injury and being replaced by Leverett in Week 7, and last week he started at right tackle for Tristan Wirfs, who the team wanted to rest as he is still resting. dealing with high ankle sprains.
To make room for Jensen, the team waived quarterback JJ Russell.
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