The Bucks’ defense was suspended Saturday after starting strong safety Jordan Whitehead was involved in a car accident on his way to the team facility for a walkthrough before Sunday’s home game against the Saints in the final game of the 2024 regular season. Another blow was taken. Whitehead was seriously injured and will not be able to play against New Orleans or in the playoffs.
The Pewter Report says the injury does not appear to be career-threatening, but it is too early to tell.
The team released a statement Saturday afternoon commenting on Whitehead’s situation and also announcing roster trades.
“Due to injuries sustained in the accident, he did not play in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints and was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injured List (NFI).”
The Bucs have added practice squad safety Ryan Neal to the 53-man active roster, and he is scheduled to play Sunday.
Bucks middle school continues to suffer injuries
Bucks SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo Credit: USA Today
Bucs start at strong safety Jordan Whitehead just returned from injured reserve after spending four weeks recovering from a chest injury sustained in Week 12 against the Giants in New York. He played in Sunday’s 48-14 win over Carolina and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the season after being injured in a car accident on the way to the team facility Saturday morning.
With Whitehead out, Tampa Bay will start Mike Edwards and Kayvon Merriweather against New Orleans on Sunday, with Ryan Neal, who was signed from the practice squad, on reserve. Antwon Winfield Jr. starts at free safety. He has been out since Week 14 against the Raiders and is already scheduled to miss Sunday’s game against the Saints.
The safety position was ravaged by injuries throughout the season. Winfield, who was named to the All-Pro team last year and became the league’s highest-paid defensive back with a lucrative contract extension during the offseason, has played in just nine games this year. He also suffered a foot injury late in the 37-14 season-opening win over the Commanders, missing the season from Weeks 2 to 5.
Bucks SS Ryan Neal – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay also placed reserve safety Christian Isien, who had filled in for Winfield and Whitehead throughout the year, on injured reserve after the game against Dallas in Week 16 and will be out for the rest of the year.
Edwards, who was claimed on waivers in Week 11 by default, played against New York and Carolina before missing the games against Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a hamstring injury.
The Bucks were so desperate that they re-signed Neal, who had been away from football, to the practice squad after the bye week due to a rash of injuries to the team’s safeties. Neil has already been active in Los Angeles earlier this year. against the Chargers.
