Guard Aaron Stinnie is ready for whatever comes next with the Bucs
TAMPA — Aaron Stinnie is ready. The sixth-year offensive lineman has built a career around being ready when called upon by the Bucs. When right guard Alex Cappa fractured an ankle in January 2021, Stinnie stepped in to start three playoff games.
Now, after missing a year with a knee injury, Stinnie is back doing it again. He stepped in seamlessly at left guard during the Bucs’ loss to the Bills on Oct. 26, replacing Matt Feiler (knee).
“It was great to be able to get back out there,” Stinnie said. “It’s been a while, you know, getting hurt last year, so it’s definitely a great time to get back out there.”
With Feiler out again for Sunday’s game against the Texans, Stinnie will get another chance to start in his place.
“He played great,” offensive coordinator Dave Canales said. “He had a good couple of runs where he really moved some people (and) had some power. In pass (protection), it was his first shot really in there since the preseason to go against some guys, and he did pretty (well). He’s got room for improvement there.
“I love seeing his athleticism, length, and power in the run game. That was really cool.”
Stinnie has done this before, obviously on a much bigger stage. After Cappa, who started all 17 regular-season games in 2020, fractured an ankle during a wild-card victory over Washington, the Tom Brady-led Bucs turned to Stinnie, who started playoff wins over the Saints, Packers and Chiefs in Super Bowl 55.
Cappa recovered from his injury and took back his job the following training camp, with Stinnie backing him up. When Cappa departed via free agency for the Bengals the following year, Stinnie was fighting for a starting spot before blowing out his knee.
The road back was as difficult as it was long, he said.
“You’ve just got to set a goal in mind and just kind of stick to that grind,” Stinnie said. “I just decided to take it day by day, and to be able to go through such a long road and then get back to it and finally get out there in a regular-season game, it was amazing.”
Stinnie, who tore an ACL and MCL in a preseason loss to the Titans in August 2022, remained in Tampa throughout last season to do his rehab and stay in contact with his teammates.
“You kind of always play this game knowing you never know when your last night was going to be; you never know when it’s going to happen,” Stinnie said. “So I think once that happened for me, it just kind of helps put everything into perspective. And then for me, it just showed me how much I love the game and how much I missed the game.”
After more than a year of waiting, Stinnie finally got that next opportunity when Feiler didn’t suit up against the Bills. The start was Stinnie’s first since Week 12 of the 2021 season against the Colts.
“I try to take things day by day,” he said. “Each week I tried going to prepare as if I am the starter, and then if I get my opportunity or my number gets called I go out there and try to play to the best of my ability. That’s what I did (Oct. 26). There are things I need to clean up and build on, but I think I do my best to stay ready for those opportunities.”
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