The Bucks announced Friday night that they have placed strong safety Jordan Whitehead on injured reserve due to a chest injury. Whitehead will miss Tampa Bay’s next four games, but could return for either the Week 17 game against the Panthers or the Week 18 season-ending home game against the Saints.
Bucks SS Jordan Whitehead and Eagles RB Saquon Barkley – Photo courtesy of USA Today
To fill out the 53-man roster, the Bucs activated inside linebacker Vi Jones from the practice squad. Jones has been on the practice squad and will join a linebacker room that has seen less playing time than a week ago.
Bucks safety room without Jordan Whitehead
Whitehead hasn’t missed a game yet this season, but he has played through a number of injuries, including leaving Thursday night’s game against the Falcons with a groin injury early in the game. During the season, he recorded 47 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three pass breakups. He was injured in the second half of Tampa Bay’s 30-7 win over the Giants. Quarterback Tommy DeVito was sprinting toward the goal line when Whitehead made the tackle and was immediately grabbed by the arm, preventing him from returning to the game.
There are question marks over how the Bucs will utilize their defensive back setup heading into Sunday’s game. Tampa Bay had more dime packages against the Giants last week. Tampa Bay lost another good player as Tykie Smith was out again. Removing Whitehead and Smith means they need to fill the strong safety and nickel spots, and who will be the reliable sixth defensive back along with everyone else on the field.
Bucks S Jordan Whitehead – Photo Credit: USA Today
Considering they have Zion McCollum and Jamel Dean at corner, the Bucks at least have the help of Isien as a backup, which is another way to use him since acquiring Edwards. But with two outs, Todd Bowles will score. Who plays safe and who slots in?
Tavierre Thomas, Josh Hayes and Tyreke Funderburk are also potential defenders. Thomas has been great on special teams, but he hasn’t played much on defense. Hayes and Funderburk faced issues, but given the immediate personnel situation, it’s not necessarily the end of their relationship with the Bucks.
Tampa Bay has shown that they have had a lot of injuries in the past. They need every win from here on out, especially against the Panthers on Sunday, to reach the postseason and finish atop the NFC for the fifth time in a row.
