Bucs head coach Todd Bowles provided an update on the severity of Ryan Jensen’s injury on Friday. The Pro Bowl center was injured at the end of Thursday’s practice when left guard Aaron Stinnie blocked defensive tackle Logan Hall into Jensen’s left knee. Jensen had to be carted off the field.

Preliminary reports suggested it was a serious injury, perhaps season-ending. Although with the swelling, some of the medical tests were inclusive. The Bucs will have to wait a few days for the swelling to subside to have an accurate read on the severity. Yet Bowles did acknowledge that Jensen would be out “months.”

“We don’t know the severity of it per se, but I do know he’ll miss some significant time – up to a couple of months,” Bowles said. “Whether he’ll be back later in the season – November or December – that depends on what they find in the knee. But he won’t be available any time soon.”

Second-year center Robert Hainsey took over the starting duties with Nick Leverett as the backup and John Molchon as the third-string center. The Bucs plan on rolling with Hainsey as the starter for the team being rather than signing veteran J.C. Tretter.. Tampa Bay likes Hainsey’s intelligence, his quickness and his athleticism.

“It will be between Hainsey and Nick Leverett right now,” Bowles said. “Both of them have played it. It will be a tough battle going in. Both are very smart, both are very tough. So it’s better to happen now than the middle of the season, so these guys can get some practice reps to prepare for it. I think either one of them will be fine.”

Leverett has the versatility to play all five line spots, but will primarily serve as a backup center and guard.