Jordan

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.

Whitehead has started for the Bucs for most of the last three seasons, compiling five picks and 21 passes deflected in 2,633 defensive snaps over that span. He had his best year in run defense in 2021, posting a 78.9 PFF grade, and has experience in both the box and deep. He’ll be the Marcus Maye replacement for the Jets, likely along Ashtyn Davis or Lamarcus Joyner at safety. The Bucs will likely move Mike Edwards into a full-time role to replace Whitehead.

Whitehead was a full participant and is expected to start in Week 2 against the Falcons after sitting out for the regular-season opener against Dallas. It’s horrific news for Atlanta’s offense, which was rendered to 3.6 yards per play due to miserable o-line protection in Week 1 against the Eagles.

Luckily for the Bucs, Whitehead is the only notable player expected to be absent for their Thursday opener versus Dallas. Whitehead started all 16 games for Tampa Bay last year, tallying four passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in the process. He has played on over 80-percent of the Bucs’ defensive snaps in each of the previous two years. Whitehead will be replaced by Mike Edwards for Week 1.

He even participated in Friday’s practice. He’ll again open the year as Tampa Bay’s starting safety after registering 74 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year, returning from a torn labrum to participate in the team’s Super Bowl win over the Chiefs.

Whitehead did not attend the White House ceremony Tuesday and wasn’t at Tampa Bay’s ring event Thursday night. He totaled 74 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery for the Bucs last year, returning from a torn labrum to participate in the team’s Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. He won’t be available when camp opens next week.