Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly set to lose key starter for the rest of the season

You knew it wasn't good when Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting safety Jordan Whitehead immediately jogged off the field with his hand gripping his outer chest during the Bucs' 30-7 win over the New York Giants.   However, it appears bad has turned into a worst-case scenario for the Bucs' starting safety on Monday morning.   According to […]

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Nov 24, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) during the second half at MetLife Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

You knew it wasn't good when Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting safety Jordan Whitehead immediately jogged off the field with his hand gripping his outer chest during the Bucs' 30-7 win over the New York Giants.  

However, it appears bad has turned into a worst-case scenario for the Bucs' starting safety on Monday morning.  

According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, Whitehead is believed to have suffered a torn pectoral muscle that would end his season, with an MRI pending to confirm.  

Whitehead suffered the injury in the third quarter with the Bucs leading 30-0.  Giants QB Tommy DeVito scrambled towards the goal line, and Whitehead stretched out and brought him down by the head.  He then immediately grabbed his chest and trotted off the field. 

The loss would be a big one for a defense that, despite a strong showing against the Giants out of the bye week, has had issues in the middle of the field, particularly in its pass defense.  

Whitehead has been one of the most reliable members of that unit, logging 684 snaps this season, third most on the defense behind Lavonte David and Zyon McCollum.  While his coverage skills were never his top calling card, his physicality and prowess in stopping the run are valuable and will not be easy to replace. 

The Bucs will now turn to Mike Edwards, whom they claimed off waivers earlier this month.  A key part of the 2020 Super Bowl championship defense, Edwards is in line to see his role increase moving forward alongside Antoine Winfield, Jr.  Edwards lined up in the Bucs' dime packages on Sunday against the Giants.   

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