Bucs Place Starter On Injured Reserve

The Bucs announced on Friday evening that they have placed strong safety Jordan Whitehead on injured reserve because of a pectoral injury. Whitehead will be out for Tampa Bay’s next four games and could potentially make it back for either home game to close out the season with a Week 17 game against the Panthers or Week 18 facing the Saints.

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead and Eagles RB Saquon Barkley – Photo by: USA Today

To fill out the 53-man roster, the Bucs have activated inside linebacker Vi Jones from the practice squad. Jones has been on the practice squad before and is joining a linebacker room that saw less playing time than a week ago.

Bucs Safety Room Without Jordan Whitehead

Whitehead had yet to miss a game this season, but has played through a number of injuries, including a groin injury that took him out earlier in the Thursday night game against the Falcons. During the season he has recorded 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He was injured int he second half of Tampa Bay’s 30-7 win over the Giants. Quarterback Tommy DeVito was sprinting towards the goal line when Whitehead made the tackle and immediately grabbed him arm after and did not get back into the game.

It becomes a question mark for how the Bucs will utilize their defensive back setup for Sunday’s game. Tampa Bay had more dime packages against the Giants last week. Tykee Smith is out again, so Tampa Bay is down another good player. Taking Whitehead and Smith out means they need to fill the strong safety and nickel spot, and who is that sixth defensive back to trust on the field together with everyone else.

Bucs S Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: USA Today

Considering Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean are at corners, the Bucs at least had the help of Izien as a backup and since acquiring Edwards, using him is separate ways. But with two out, Todd Bowles will decide who plays at safety and who’s in the slot.

Tavierre Thomas, Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk could also be another defender. Thomas has been fantastic on special teams, but hasn’t played much on defense. Hayes and Funderburk have ran into their issues but it doesn’t necessarily mean yet that the Bucs are done with them given the situation of their personnel for the time being.

Tampa Bay has shown before that they’ve with a number of injuries before. They need every win down the stretch, especially on Sunday against the Panthers, to get them to a NFC-leading best five times in a row where they’ve made the postseason.