Robert Hainsey To The Rescue For The Bucs?

The Bucs will be without starting center Graham Barton, the team’s first-round pick, on Sunday for the NFC South clash against the Saints at New Orleans. Thankfully for the Bucs, they have veteran Robert Hainsey as his backup.

Hainsey has been a two-year starter in Tampa Bay, replacing Pro Bowler Ryan Jensen, whose career was ended with an unfortunate knee injury on the second day of training camp in 2022. Without missing a start in two seasons, Hainsey helped the Bucs win back-to-back NFC South championships.

And the team just happens to be 2-0 in New Orleans with Hainsey snapping the ball.

Barton didn’t practice all week after suffering a hamstring strain against the Falcons in a 36-30 overtime loss at Atlanta and played his worst game of the year, according to Pro Football Focus. The rookie had a 39.5 grade versus the Falcons and has a 58 overall grade from PFF this year.

That’s actually a better grade than PFF gave Hainsey in 2023, which was a 50.2 overall grade – down from a 66.7 grade in 2022. The Bucs wanted an upgrade over Hainsey from a size and athleticism standpoint, which is why the team drafted Barton in the first round in April.

But at least Hainsey has experience snapping to Baker Mayfield and is battle-tested in the NFL. Hainsey has to be regarded as one of the better, more experienced backup centers in the league.

Saints’ Center Situation Is Far Worse Than The Bucs’

It could be worse. Just ask the Saints, who might be down to their fourth-string center for Sunday’s game against the Bucs.

Starter Erik McCoy, New Orleans’ best offensive lineman, is on injured reserve. So is his backup Shane Lemieux.

Lucas Patrick, the third-string center, got his first start against Kansas City on Monday Night Football and did not practice all week. He’s listed as questionable with a chest injury. If Patrick can’t play, New Orleans will start its fourth center of the year in Connor McGovern.

That’s not ideal when it comes to facing Tampa Bay defensive tackles Vita Vea and Logan Hall, who have a combined five sacks in the last two games, as well as the return of pass-rushing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. Not to mention the fact that the Saints will have a rookie quarterback under center in Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round pick in April out of South Carolina.

Robert Hainsey Has Been An Absolute Pro This Year

Robert Hainsey has only played one offensive snap this year, which came as an extra tackle on a goal line running play in the team’s 26-7 loss to the Broncos. The team’s third-round pick four years ago, Hainsey is in a contract year. The fact that he’s been relegated to being a backup in such a critical season for his career has been hard to take. Yet Hainsey has been an professional about it.

Not only is Hainsey a demoted two-year starter, he’s also very good friends with left tackle and team captain Tristan Wirfs, who spoke about how Hainsey has handled the team drafting Graham Barton to replace him.

“It’s tough, but the best five are going to play and we’ve said that the whole time,” Wirfs said. “We want to put the best five out there and the right five as well. It can be tough sometimes because Hainsey is one of my best friends, and he knows that. He’s been working and Graham’s been working – just trying to get better every day.

“It is a little weird dynamic with the friendship dynamic and the competition dynamic, but we are a real tight-knit group, and I think we all understand that we have to come out together and play as one.”

There has been no animosity or bad blood between Hainsey and Barton and that is a testament to how team-oriented Hainsey is as a player. The hope is that Hainsey can step in against the Saints and play his best game yet with a new contract – from Tampa Bay or elsewhere – riding on his performance.

And perhaps having a week off to recover from his hamstring injury will allow Barton to take a step back and watch and learn from the sidelines so that when he resumes play as Tampa Bay’s starting center he’ll deliver his best game yet as well.

“Graham is an athletic dude,” Wirfs said. “He’s super smart. He’s confident. The more reps he has at center the better he’ll be.”