The Bucs introduced on Friday night that they’ve positioned robust security Jordan Whitehead on injured reserve due to a pectoral harm. Whitehead can be out for Tampa Bay’s subsequent 4 video games and will doubtlessly make it again for both dwelling sport to shut out the season with a Week 17 sport towards the Panthers or Week 18 dealing with the Saints.
Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead and Eagles RB Saquon Barkley – Picture by: USA In the present day
To fill out the 53-man roster, the Bucs have activated inside linebacker Vi Jones from the apply squad. Jones has been on the apply squad earlier than and is becoming a member of a linebacker room that noticed much less enjoying time than per week in the past.
Bucs Security Room With out Jordan Whitehead
Whitehead had but to overlook a sport this season, however has performed by means of quite a few accidents, together with a groin harm that took him out earlier within the Thursday night time sport towards the Falcons. Through the season he has recorded 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and three go breakups. He was injured int he second half of Tampa Bay’s 30-7 win over the Giants. Quarterback Tommy DeVito was sprinting in direction of the purpose line when Whitehead made the sort out and instantly grabbed him arm after and didn’t get again into the sport.
It turns into a query mark for a way the Bucs will make the most of their defensive again setup for Sunday’s sport. Tampa Bay had extra dime packages towards the Giants final week. Tykee Smith is out once more, so Tampa Bay is down one other good participant. Taking Whitehead and Smith out means they should fill the robust security and nickel spot, and who’s that sixth defensive again to belief on the sector along with everybody else.
Bucs S Jordan Whitehead – Picture by: USA In the present day
Contemplating Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean are at corners, the Bucs at the very least had the assistance of Izien as a backup and since buying Edwards, utilizing him is separate methods. However with two out, Todd Bowles will determine who performs at security and who’s within the slot.
Tavierre Thomas, Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk may be one other defender. Thomas has been unbelievable on particular groups, however hasn’t performed a lot on protection. Hayes and Funderburk have bumped into their points but it surely doesn’t essentially imply but that the Bucs are performed with them given the scenario of their personnel in the intervening time.
Tampa Bay has proven earlier than that they’ve with quite a few accidents earlier than. They want each win down the stretch, particularly on Sunday towards the Panthers, to get them to a NFC-leading finest 5 occasions in a row the place they’ve made the postseason.
