Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter injured in car accident, likely to miss rest of season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense took a big blow on Saturday due to something beyond their own control.   According to Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud, Whitehead was injured in a car accident on Saturday and will be out for multiple weeks and likely the rest of the season.  The team later confirmed the accident, […]

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense took a big blow on Saturday due to something beyond their own control.  

According to Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud, Whitehead was injured in a car accident on Saturday and will be out for multiple weeks and likely the rest of the season. 

The team later confirmed the accident, releasing a statement on Saturday. 

Obviously it's very good news that Whitehead is ok and nothing apparently serious came from the accident, at least on his side of things. 

However, the loss on the field is a significant one considering where things stand for the Bucs' defense going into their regular season finale tomorrow against the New Orleans Saints.  Tampa Bay will be without Antoine Winfield, Jr., who was ruled out on Friday as he continues to work back from a knee injury he suffered weeks ago against the Las Vegas Raiders.  Christian Izien is on injured reserve.  

As such, the team called up Ryan Neal to the active roster, which gives them a safety group of Mike Edwards, Kaevon Merriweather, Tykee Smith, and Neal for Sunday, along with Tavierre Thomas as a depth option. 

Not ideal, but fortunately for the Bucs, the Saints are terribly beat up right now, with Derek Carr, Alvin Kamra, Kendre Miller, and Chris Olave all having been ruled out or believed to be unlikely to play. 

The Bucs and Saints get underway on Sunday at 1:00 pm ET from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.