The 8-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently sit in second place in the NFC South, behind the 8-7 Atlanta Falcons, and eighth place in the NFC Playoff Picture. The most realistic path for the Buccaneers to clinch a playoff spot is by winning the NFC South Division. To accomplish that, Tampa Bay needs to win out, and Atlanta must lose one more game. Another path to the playoffs is the seventh seed, and the Buccaneers need to win out while the Washington Commanders lose out.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened veteran safeties’ practice window yesterday
The Buccaneers designated Jordan Whitehead for a return from injured reserve. Whitehead suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 12 against the New York Giants, but the pectoral injury didn’t require surgery, and he wasn’t necessarily out for the rest of the season. As a result, the Buccaneers placed him on injured reserve ahead of Week 13. There is a chance the veteran safety could return to the lineup this weekend for Sunday’s game against the 4-11 Carolina Panthers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year defensive back suffered a similar injury
According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, the Buccaneers placed Christian Izien on injured reserve. As Laine points out, Izien, who started ten games this season (splitting time at safety and nickel cornerback due to injuries), injured his pectoral muscle in Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys. The injury is likely season-ending, and if not, the earliest he can return is the NFC Championship game. However, the Buccaneers, of course, need to clinch a playoff berth and win the Wild Card and Divisional Round.
The Bucs have placed defensive back Christian Izien on injured reserve. He’s been dealing with a pectoral injury (yes, another pectoral injury among the Bucs’ DBs). They just can’t catch a break in their secondary.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) December 26, 2024
