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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced that center Ryan Jensen will be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list and will not play in the 2023 NFL season.
This decision comes as a result of complications stemming from a knee injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the 2022 season, according to General Manager Jason Licht.
Jensen sustained the knee injury during Training Camp last year, which ultimately limited his playing time to all but one game. Jensen was unable to take the field until the Cowboys’ wild card playoff game.
The game held special significance as it marked the final NFL appearance for the legendary Buccaneers’ quarterback, Tom Brady.
The severity of Jensen’s injury has raised concerns about his future in the league.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the injury is so substantial that it is likely Jensen has played his last down in the NFL.
The #Bucs will place C Ryan Jensen on season-ending Injury Reserve thanks to the complications from the knee injury that robbed him of nearly all of last season, GM Jason Licht announced. The injury is so significant that Jensen likely had played his last down in the NFL.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2023
This news comes as a poignant development for the player, as his decision to forego surgery after the serious knee injury during the previous season allowed him to make an appearance in the playoffs.
Jensen said instead of surgery he opted to undergo a procedure which included receiving stem cells cultivated from the umbilical cords donated from mothers who had cesarean sections, according to Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud.
Jensen said five doctors recommended reconstructive surgery as the only way to repair his knee, but instead of he opted for the procedure and his knee is just not the same.
As the Buccaneers regroup for the upcoming season, the absence of Ryan Jensen will undoubtedly be felt.
Jensen’s contributions on and off the field have left an indelible mark on the team, and his presence will be missed by teammates and fans alike.