The Bucks received bad news before kickoff of Sunday’s divisional game against the Saints in New Orleans. In fact, running back Rathard White will miss the game with an ankle injury. White was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, but he sprained his ankle on his final carry Thursday in Atlanta.
He tried practicing it that week, but things only got worse, not better. After participating limitedly in Wednesday’s practice, White did not practice Thursday or Friday.
The Bucks have hinted that White will leave the team. Running back DJ Williams promoted to practice squad He will be the third-line running back on Sunday. New Orleans plans to have Sean Tucker as running back and start rookie running back Bucky Irving. Both Irving and Tucker are also the team’s kick returners.
White is the Bucs’ second-leading rusher with 187 yards on 51 carries (3.7 yards per game), behind Irving, who had 44 carries for 247 yards (5.6 yards per game) and one touchdown. White had a career-long 56 yards in Atlanta last week, tying Tampa Bay’s longest run of the year.
Bucks RB Rathard White – Photo courtesy of USA Today
In addition to being Tampa Bay’s best pass-protecting back, he is also the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 17 catches for 127 yards (7.5 yards average). It will be interesting to see how Irving and Tucker perform in pass protection, which is not their strong suit.
Tampa Bay will also be without starting center Graham Burton (hamstring), safety Christian Idzien (elbow/groin), and wide receivers Trey Palmer (concussion) and Kameron Johnson (ankle). Become. All four players were listed as unavailable on Friday’s final injury report.
The Bucks will replace Barton at center with Robert Hainsey, who was a starter the previous two years. The Bucks are 2-0 against New Orleans with Hainzuh under center. To strengthen the receiving corps, the team promoted practice squad receiver Ryan Miller to the game-day roster.
The Bucks also got some good injury news.
The Bucs will not start running back Rathard White, but the team received some good injury news heading into the game against the Saints. Starting right tackle Luke Goedeke, who has been out since Week 1 with a concussion, returns to action. Goedeke was listed as questionable on Friday’s final injury report but is expected to play. He will have his hands full with Cameron Jordan and Karl Granderson, a top three-piece football player on New Orleans’ defensive line.
Bucks SS Jordan Whitehead and Antwan Winfield Jr. – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay will also return pass-rushing defensive tackle Kariyah Kancey, who will debut with New Orleans in 2024. Cuncey missed the first five games of the season due to a calf injury similar to the one he suffered early last season.
Cuncey joins Logan Hall, who leads the team in sacks with three, and Vita Vea, who has two sacks on the season and has made both sacks in the past two games. The Saints May Be Blaming Theirself 4th string center on sunday. Starter Eric McCoy is on injured reserve, as is backup center Shane Lemieux.
Third-line center Lucas Patrick started Monday night at Kansas City, but has not practiced all week with a chest injury. Connor McGovern will likely start for the Saints, and fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler will make his first NFL start against Tampa Bay.
The Bucs will also have a starting safety tandem in New Orleans in Antwon Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead. Winfield has been out since Week 1 with a foot injury, and Whitehead left the game against the Falcons with a groin injury. Both were listed as suspicious.
Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who missed the Eagles and Falcons games with a hamstring injury, is also scheduled to play against the Saints. McMillan could replace Trey Palmer as the team’s punt returner on Sunday.
