The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cannot escape the clutches of the injury bug and it’s nasty web. Each week their seems to be a new injury popping up just as the defense looks to be building momentum.
The injury to safety Jordan Whitehead seemed worrisome on Sunday, but the team received some positive news on Tuesday.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that Whitehead will miss significant time with a torn pectoral muscle but it will not need surgery. That means he could return for the playoffs if the Bucs were to make a run in the second half of the season.
The NFL has seen these types of injuries before, most notably to Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt, who tore his pectoral muscle in 2022. He suffered the injury in Week 1 of that season and was able to return in Week 9 after missing seven games.
While no injury is the same, this does paint a timeline for the injury. It also gives the Bucs hope and motivation as they look to build a new winning streak into the playoffs starting on Sunday against the Panthers.