A longtime ESPN NFL reporter announced Sunday she is stepping away from her post momentarily as she deals with undisclosed medical issues.
Jenna Laine, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the Worldwide Leader since her arrival in 2016, shared the update on X Sunday night. Earlier in the day, she skipped the Bucs’ 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons due to health reasons.
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“Was inactive today, and will be for a bit. Have had to do some medical stuff,” Laine wrote. “Next week is the anniversary of my back surgery and I’m honestly just really tired of feeling knocked down. Didn’t even want to say anything. But that’s where we are. Love y’all.”
It’s unclear what exactly Laine is dealing with here, but she previously took a leave of absence in November 2025 to undergo the back surgery she referenced in her tweet last night.
“I did everything I could to buy time until after the season but I’ve exhausted all other options, and the longer I wait, the more I run the risk of permanent nerve damage,” she said at the time. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but a big thank you to those who got word already and have sent well wishes.”
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Laine, 41, also vowed she would be back on the job, a promise she kept. Hopefully, her latest absence is not a long one either.
The post ESPN reporter stepping away ‘for a bit’ for ‘medical stuff’ appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.
