The situation along the offensive line in Tampa Bay might have just gone from bad to worse. After losing center Ryan Jensen for “months” with a knee injury suffered at the start of training camp, backup center Robert Hainsey was just taken off the practice field on a cart after suffering a lower body injury of his own.
Hainsey suffered the injury near the end of Tampa Bay’s first joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday:
End of practice and Bucs center Robert Hainsey was carted off. Unbelievable.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 10, 2022
When the team lost Jensen earlier in training camp, Hainsey was mentioned as the most likely option to step into the starting spot. Reports out of Tampa Bay indicated that the team was pleased with his progress after stepping into the starting role:
Just last night, a Bucs source said Hainsey has been looking great — and holding down the position in a way that seemed the team wouldn’t need to look for Jensen’s replacement outside the building. So now… we wait to see the severity of the injury. https://t.co/oHXknEpddm
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 10, 2022
If this turns out to be a serious injury, in-house options remain for Tampa Bay, including Nick Leverett, who slid into the center spot after Hainsey’s injury:
Not good: Robert Hainsey leaves with what looks like a leg injury, helped off by a trainer. Leverett slides over to center.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 10, 2022
There also remains a potential external replacement, as veteran center J.C. Tretter remains a free agent after being released by the Cleveland Browns.
Update: The Buccaneers and Hainsey reported after practice that the center was dealing with cramps in his legs:
GREAT news for the Bucs from a source right now: Hainsey was experiencing bad cramps when he was carted off. What looked like a real scare out here… was nothing more than the Florida heat. https://t.co/oHXknEpddm
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 10, 2022
