Garafolo: Jordan Whitehead ‘fully cleared’

A January 2025 car crash sidelined Whitehead for the entire season. He was cleared for football activity just over a week ago.

Whitehead missed time in 2024 with a torn pec. He was set to return in January and then suffered a neck injury in a car accident, preventing his return. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Whitehead has received full medical clearance to return from the neck issue. With 101 career starts between his two stints in Tampa Bay and a stay with the Jets, Whitehead has more than enough experience to find a starting job in 2025. He totaled 79 tackles, three pass breakups, and two TFLs in 12 games last year.

Whitehead began his career with the Bucs and signed with the Jets after his rookie deal expired. He returned to Tampa Bay last season but only lasted one year on what could have been a two-year deal if the Bucs picked up his option. Whitehead missed time late in the season with a torn pec. Just as he was nearing a return, Whitehead got in a car accident and injured his neck, ending his season. Garafolo noted that he is expected to be recovered “well ahead of the season.” That recovery could delay a new contract, but Whitehead, only 27 years old, should be able to find another starting role elsewhere.

Now on the NFI list, Whitehead is required to miss at least four games, though Rapoport’s comments suggest even a deep playoff run would not be enough time for the veteran safety to return. Whitehead suffered a torn pec in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve. The team had recently designated him to return from injured reserve and he was questionable for Week 18. Per Rapoport, Whitehead should be okay in the long term. His season ends with three pass breakups, two TFLs, and 79 combined tackles.

Whitehead, who was originally thought to be out for the season when he sustained his pec injury in late November, could return as soon as Week 17 against the Panthers. Tampa could also take their team and wait for Week 18 and the postseason, if they capture a playoff berth in the coming weeks. In 11 games this season, Whitehead — who signed with Tampa in the offseason — totaled 76 tackles, three pass breakups, and two tackles for loss. The struggling Bucs secondary could certainly use a healthy Whitehead.

It was reported Monday that Whitehead was lost for the season after sustaining a serious pec injury in Week 12 against the Giants. Garafolo said Whitehead might avoid surgery and has a shot to suit up again this year as the Bucs chase a postseason berth. The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud said Whitehead could avoid surgery on the injured pec. The short-term loss of Whitehead will be a blow for a Tampa coverage unit that has been among the league’s worst this season.

Things felt like they were trending in this direction after Whitehead immediately left the field holding his pec after making a tackle on Tommy DeVito. The veteran safety did not return to the game and will now miss the remainder of the season with what is likely a torn pectoral muscle. Whitehead signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers this offseason after spending 2022 and 2023 with the Jets. In 11 games this season, he’s totaled 76 tackles, three pass breakups, and two TFLs. He started every game he’s appeared in this season and will presumably be back for another season. That said, the Buccaneers can save $4.5 million against the cap by cutting him next offseason and wouldn’t have any dead cap space to worry about.

Whitehead made a tackle on quarterback Tommy DeVito and immediately grabbed at his pec after the play. He immediately ran off the field and did not return to the game. While we don’t yet know the severity of his injury, if it’s a torn pectoral, we could safely assume Whitehead’s season would be over. We’ll know more about the specifics in the coming days, but this would be a tough loss for the Buccaneers’ secondary if Whitehead is unable to return.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth a max of $10 million. Whitehead spent the first four years of his career with the Bucs before signing a two-year deal with the Jets. He started all 34 possible games in New York and logged 17 pass breakups in six interceptions across the two seasons. An Iron Man with over 2,200 snaps over the past two years, Whitehead will take on a starting role back in Tampa Bay.

Per Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Jets added void years to the end of Whitehead’s deal and saved $5 million against the cap this year. Whitehead’s salary for 2023 is now guaranteed. He will become a free agent next offseason. The 26-year-old safety started all 17 games for the Jets in 2022 and missed just a handful of snaps on the entire season. He broke up eight passes and notched two interceptions in his first year under Robert Saleh.