J.J. Roberts, an undrafted defensive back out of Marshall, was making a strong case to earn a roster spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Roberts has put together a strong offseason, and immediately stood out in his first game action as a professional.
In the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, Roberts made five total tackles and tallied two passes defended, including deflecting a ball that was intercepted by his teammate Tyrek Funderburk.
This week, the Buccaneers travelled to Pittsburgh for joint practice with the Steelers ahead of their preseason game on Saturday night. Roberts left practice early with a knee injury, and according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the injury appears to be serious.
Bucs DB JJ Roberts sufffered an injured knee during a special teams period. He came off on his own but I was told it could be serious.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 14, 2025
Head coach Todd Bowles said Roberts will undergo an X-ray and MRI today to assess the injury. If it’s as serious as expected, it would be a major setback for both the promising rookie and the Buccaneers’ defense as a whole.
Roberts, who was cross-training at both safety spots as well as nickel cornerback and even some reps at outside corner in case of emergency, seemed poised for a significant depth role as a rookie.
His path to a role in Tampa Bay mirrored that of Christian Izien, who carved out a starting spot as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and has since become a favorite of Bowles due to his versatility.
A serious injury could put Roberts’ future in Tampa Bay in jeopardy. As an undrafted rookie, he needs all the reps and game experience he can get to continue his development and prove he belongs at the professional level.
Tampa Bay is bracing to be without one of their most promising and versatile young players as the organization collectively holds their breath hoping the injury isn’t as bad as expected.
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