With Christian Izien Injury, Safety Now Has Little Depth
August 16th, 2025
Brutal week for Bucs’ safeties.
This week in Pittsburgh has been fun and productive for the Bucs. It has also been a trip to hell for Bucs safeties.
First, it was learned that Antoine Winfield has what Bucs coach Todd Bowles deemed an NHL-style “lower leg injury.” Please don’t let this be an ankle injury. He’s been wearing shorts since Wednesday.
Then, at the joint practice with the Steelers, promising rookie undrafted safety J.J. Roberts was carted off — yes, Joe saw it with his own eyes as the cart rolled right past Joe — with a knee injury.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said on the Buccaneers Radio Network prior to tonight’s worthless preseason game with the Steelers that Roberts is out for the year.
And now Christian Izien got hurt tonight. In the first half against Pittsburgh, Izien suffered what was deemed by the Bucs as an oblique injury. If that’s accurate, that usually means Izien will miss three or four weeks. Perhaps more.
So Izien likely won’t be available before Week 2.
Suddenly, in a handful of days, safety went from a strength to a massive hole on the depth chart.