How hurt was SirVocea Dennis?
Does anyone still have the memory of the Bucs losing to the Cowboys at The Licht House on Monday night of Wild Card Weekend in 2023?
You remember the game, right? A gallant warrior like Ryan Jensen tried to play with a knee that was destroyed the previous July? The Cowboys won 31-14.
Joe will never forget Jensen hobbling on the field. He had no business being there. He was a shell of his Pro Bowl warrior self.
It really was sad that was his last game — on national television. Joe was reminded of baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays playing outfield for the Mets well past his prime in the 1973 World Series or Aaron Rodgers joining the Steelers. Mays, the best player of his generation, played like an out-of-shape minor leaguer in the field.
Weeks later, Jensen retired. His knee was wrecked beyond repair — during underwear football of all things.
Fast forward to this week when Bucs linebacker SirVocea Dennis spoke at One Buc Palace and explained how he was feeling after shoulder surgery.
“I feel great,” Dennis said. “Actually, I felt great [during] our last playoff game, really.
“It just feels amazing being out here practicing with the guys, just being around football and just being back just to play healthy.”
He felt great during the playoff game, eh? That’s news to Joe.
Why is it news to Joe? Just as the playoffs began, Joe spoke with Dennis in the Bucs locker room. Dennis told Joe he couldn’t suit up for Washington; rehab from shoulder surgery just wasn’t quick enough to get on the field.
Until that point, Bucs coach Todd Bowles held out a sliver of hope Dennis could play if the Bucs made a playoff run. In fact, two weeks before the Washington playoff game, Dennis told Joe he was crossing his fingers, hoping he would recuperate enough to play.
Joe can understand if the Bucs didn’t want to take chances with Dennis and decided to rest him for a fully healthy 2025.
OK, fine. Makes sense. But the Bucs had zero issue shoving Jensen on the field when he played some snaps like he still needed crutches.
The Bucs knew what they had in their weakest spot on defense with both J.J. Russell and K.J. Britt at inside linebacker. Wouldn’t a starter who felt “great” have been at least a minimal upgrade?
Could Dennis have been, well, less than upfront with Joe about his injury? Sure. The thing is, Joe always looks at players’ body language. Some people just aren’t good poker players, and Joe remembers Dennis’ body language that day to be awful, like mom told him he was grounded and wouldn’t be able to play Madden for a month.
Dennis looked like “Droopy.” Joe doesn’t believe Dennis was conning Joe.
Did the Bucs shut Dennis down against his wishes?
This is all very interesting to Joe.