The promising start to training camp for Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety J.J. Roberts has hit an unfortunate pause, as the undrafted rookie out of Marshall was placed on injured reserve on Monday. Roberts suffered a knee injury in last Thursday's joint practice with the Steelers in Pittsburgh and will miss the entirety of his rookie season. The Buccaneers responded to Roberts' move to I.R. and several other injury issues in the secondary by signing rookie safety Will Brooks.
Signing Roberts was a top priority for the Buccaneers after he went undrafted in April, and he impressed throughout offseason workouts and the first few weeks of training camp. He played in the team's first preseason game against Tennessee and recorded five tackles and two passes defensed. In two seasons at Marshall (2023-24), Roberts contributed 167 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, 17 passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He also played three seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Marshall.
Brooks signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in May but was waived two days later. In four seasons with the Volunteers, he amassed 82 tackles, 0.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four interceptions, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Brooks saw his first opportunity as a regular starter last year and picked off four passes, returning them for 152 yards and a touchdown.
Brooks also took part in the Buccaneers' 2025 rookie mini-camp in May on a tryout contract.
