Bucs quarterback Tom Brady turned 45 on Wednesday and is showing no signs of slowing down as he enters his 23rd season in the NFL. In fact, his arm is as strong as ever.

That’s what NBC Sports columnist and football writer Peter King reported this week. King visited Bucs training camp on Wednesday and spoke with Clyde Christensen. The Bucs quarterbacks coach relayed a conversation he had with general manager Jason Licht.

In a training camp tour video, King said: Clyde Christensen the long-time quarterback coach, who has coached some of the great ones, including Peyton Manning, told Jason Licht, the G.M., recently: “You’re not going to believe this. Brady’s arm is better than I’ve ever seen it.”

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Brady didn’t practice on Wednesday due to it being his birthday. The team had Thursday off, but Brady missed Friday’s practice.

“He had an excused absence,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “We’ll let him do what he needs to do. If he’s back tomorrow, that’s great. But we’ll keep in touch and we’ll monitor that.”

UPDATE: Brady did return to practice on Saturday morning.

King Discusses Hainsey Replacing Jensen

King went on to report about how the Bucs plan to keep the center job in-house after Ryan Jensen went down with what could be a season-ending injury.

“Brady’s not going to be the big worry, but his center might be,” King said. “Ryan Jensen, the incumbent that Brady really fought for when he came out of retirement for the Bucs to pay him – got him a $13 million per year contract. Obviously when Ryan Jensen goes down with an injury early in camp they’ve got to turn to the No. 2 guy, Robert Hainsey.

“Drafted out of Notre Dame in the third round last year, has not played yet – has not started a game yet. But he basically is going to be given the opportunity to win the job in training camp. He was practicing with the 1’s and I expect him to get the job.

King noted that Bowles had confidence in Hainsey.

“Every day he’s facing Akiem Hicks and Vita Vea,” King said. “If that can’t get you ready for the season I don’t know what will.”

King added: “That looks like it’s going to be manageable. In fact, Bowles said to me, “‘I’m not particularly worried about that job.’”