The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ preseason start has been hampered by an injury to rookie JJ Roberts, who was making waves in training camp. The safety, an undrafted free agent signing from Marshall, suffered a knee injury in a practice against the Steelers in Pittsburgh and has been placed on the injured reserve list. This means he will miss his entire first NFL season.
Roberts’ absence leaves an unexpected hole in a secondary already plagued by physical issues. This has led Jason Licht’s front office to react quickly. The chosen one to take his place on the roster is Will Brooks , also a rookie safety who already had a brief stint at Tampa’s minicamp in May.
Roberts’ impact on the Buccaneers
Upon Roberts’ arrival after the draft was seen as a high-potential gamble. At Marshall, he recorded 167 tackles, 17 passes defensed, and two forced fumbles in just two seasons after starting his college career at Wake Forest. His preseason debut against Tennessee left a strong impression, with five tackles and two passes defensed , reinforcing the idea that he could earn a real spot in Todd Bowles’ defensive rotation.
His progress excited fans, but JJ Roberts’ injury now means we’ll have to wait until 2026 to see him in action again.
Who is Will Brooks?
Will Brooks arrives from the University of Tennessee, where he excelled in his senior year with four interceptions, 152 yards, and a defensive touchdown. His instinct for generating turnovers fits with what Bowles looks for in a defense that has already accumulated six interceptions this preseason .
The player joined the Chiefs after going undrafted. Although he was released a few days later. He later tried out for the Saints and had contact with the Buccaneers during rookie minicamp, which makes it easier for him to adapt to the roster.
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Brooks’ signing addresses the critical situation at safety. In addition to Roberts’ absence, Antoine Winfield Jr. is nursing a leg injury, and Christian Izien suffered an oblique injury against Pittsburgh. This has forced Bowles to rotate with Tykee Smith, Kaevon Merriweather, Rashad Wisdom, and Shilo Sanders, all of whom are fighting for a final roster spot.
With just two weeks left before the start of the regular season, the Buccaneers face a significant challenge: rebuilding their secondary and finding an immediate backup in Will Brooks who can breathe life into a group depleted by injuries.
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This article was translated from it’s original form in Spanish to English via META AI.
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