Is Ryan Jensen’s return near? ‘I don’t know when he’ll be back,’ Todd Bowles says

TAMPA — Bucs coach Todd Bowles didn’t exactly validate a report that Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen could return from his preseason knee injury by early November.

Outkick’s Jason Cole reported Jensen could return as early as the Nov. 6 home game against the Rams, though that’s uncertain. Jensen, 31, was injured the second day of training camp in late July, but never has been placed on injured reserve. The specifics of his injury also never have been made clear.

“As far as I know, he’s still limped and hobbled,” Bowles said after practice Wednesday. “I can’t tell you how he’s going to heal. He’s walking better and that’s the best I can tell you. I don’t know when he’ll be back.”

Without Jensen, the Bucs’ front has lost some of its swagger, snarl and sturdiness. The Bucs rank last in the NFL in rushing (67.5 yards per game) and appear to be struggling to protect Tom Brady long enough to let downfield routes develop. Brady’s 7.5 intended air yards per attempt rank 18th in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference.

“Other than (Jensen) walking around without a brace, that’s all I’ve seen,” Bowles added. “No more progress than I’ve seen before.”

Injury update

Safety Mike Edwards, who missed Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh with a hyperextended right elbow, practiced fully, albeit with garish black braces on both arms.

“They call me robo-safety,” he joked. “I always had the left one from last year (when he had a similar injury), so I just keep the left one. And now I’ve got the right one.”

Edwards acknowledged he is still day to day, but said he “feels good.” Those practicing in a limited capacity were cornerback Carlton Davis (hip) and rookie defensive lineman Logan Hall (abdomen/groin).

Not practicing at all were tight end Cameron Brate (sprained neck), defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (foot), receiver Julio Jones (knee), right guard Shaq Mason (ankle) and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad).

Josh Wells nearing return

The team has designated veteran offensive tackle Josh Wells to return from injured reserve, meaning he could be activated in the next three weeks.

Wells, placed on injured reserve with a calf injury on Sept. 21, practiced with the team. He appeared in each of the first two games prior to his injury, stepping in at right tackle when Donovan Smith hyperextended his elbow. He also has been a key cog in jumbo packages on the goal line, where the Bucs have struggled recently.

Elsewhere, the team signed 27-year-old journeyman tight end David Wells to the practice squad, providing insurance for a position that could be missing Brate for an extended stretch. Wells has logged stints with eight NFL teams, but has appeared in only three games.

Quote of the day

“This is my team, not Bruce’s team. We talk all the time. But you don’t jump-start (the offense) by asking a former coach what to do. We have our own things to deal with and we understand that. We’ve been with Bruce long enough to know what he wants but they’ve been with me long enough to know what I want, so we’re working towards that.”

Bowles, when asked if he would reach out to Bruce Arians, the previous Bucs head coach, for help to shake the Bucs’ doldrums on offense. Tampa Bay not only is last in rushing offense, it is last in yards per attempt at 3.07. The Bucs have had 29 possessions in the first half of the first six games this season and have only three touchdowns in that span.

Times staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.

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