Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Jordan Whitehead was involved in a car accident while en route to the practice facility, the team said in a statement Saturday.
“Due to injuries sustained in the accident, he will not play in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints and has been placed on the reserve/non-football injury (NFI) list,” the team’s statement read. Buccaneers.
The team released Ryan Neal from its practice squad to take Whitehead’s spot on the 53-man roster.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium. (Images by Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
Whitehead, 27, has been a key player for the Bucs this season, starting all 12 games in which he has appeared.
Whitehead has 79 combined tackles with two tackles for loss and one QB hit this season.
The Buccaneers, with a win over the Saints on Sunday, will win the NFC South division and clinch a playoff spot regardless of the outcome in the Atlanta Falcons-Carolina Panthers game.
PANTHERS’ DJ JOHNSON TO MISS LAST GAME OF SEASON AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) defends during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Images by Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn)
Whitehead has been in the NFL for seven seasons. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers and was part of their Super Bowl-winning team in the 2020-2021 season.
Whitehead started every regular season and playoff game during the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl run.
After the 2021-2022 season, he signed with the New York Jets and started every game for the Jets over two years.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) reacts after a play against the Washington Commanders in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Images by Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
After two seasons with the Jets, Whitehead returned to Tampa Bay and signed a two-year contract with the Bucs in the offseason.
Unfortunately, Whitehead wasn’t the only player to be in a car accident this week, as Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson will not play against the Falcons, coach Dave Canales said Friday.
