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Bucs Lose Another Defender To Injured Reserve

Originally posted on PewterReport.com | By Scott Reynolds | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 6:28 PM ET

For the second time this training camp, the Bucs have lost a promising rookie defensive player to a season-ending knee injury. Tampa Bay defensive back J.J. Roberts suffered a significant knee injury on special teams in the Bucs’ joint practice session on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

During the first week of training camp the Bucs also lost rookie outside linebacker David Walker, the team’s fourth-round pick, to a season-ending knee injury. Walker, who was destined to make the team and play quite a bit as an edge rusher, was placed on injured reserve as a result.

Pewter Report has learned that the same fate will happen to Roberts, who was also in line to make the 53-man roster due to his impressive offseason, training camp and his preseason debut in which he broke up two passes versus Tennessee – one of which led to an interception by cornerback Tyrek Funderburk.

J.J. Roberts’ Promising Season With The Bucs Is Over Just As It Began

The Bucs had a draftable grade on former Marshall safety J.J. Roberts and had him in for an official 30 visit prior to the 2025 NFL Draft. Roberts wound up signing as a priority undrafted free agent with the team, and $300,000 of his rookie contract is fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap.com. The team loved his versatility, which was demonstrated in the OTAs and in training camp by playing both nickel cornerback and both safety positions.

Roberts had a very good NFL debut in Tampa Bay’s 29-7 preseason win over the visiting Tennessee Titans last Saturday night. He had two pass breakups versus the Titans and also had an interception in training camp. Roberts was likely going to make the team as the third or fourth safety, and was challenging fellow rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish, the team’s third-round pick, for the starting role in the slot.

How J.J. Roberts’ Injury Affects The Bucs’ Depth In The Secondary

Not only was J.J. Roberts in line to be at the very least the backup nickelback this season, but he also could have provided depth at safety. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith are the starting safeties with Christian Izien being the top reserve due to his versatility.

Like Roberts, Izien, who has had a very strong camp, can play nickelback and either safety position. Now Izien figures to receive more playing time without Roberts available for his rookie season.

Roberts was competing for a spot on the secondary depth chart primarily with reserve safeties Kaevon Merriweather, Rashad Wisdom and fellow undrafted free agent Shilo Sanders. Now each of those players has a more viable path to making the roster with one less player in competition for what could be the final safety spot behind Winfield, Smith and Izien.

Merriweather, who has two interceptions in training camp, has experience on his side. He’s entering his third year in Todd Bowles defense and spent last year on the active roster after spending some time on the practice squad as a rookie.

Wisdom was on the practice squad all of his rookie season in 2024, while Sanders has had a good training camp and made a few plays in his NFL debut last week against Tennessee.

With Roberts’ injury the Bucs might want to get a look at new cornerback JayVian Farr, an undrafted free agent out of Augustana, at nickelback as well as outside cornerback. Farr was signed this week due to injuries at the position, as Tampa Bay looks to be without Benjamin Morrison, Josh Hayes and Roman Parodie for Saturday night’s game in Pittsburgh. All three of those cornerbacks missed practice this week.