Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead suffers 'significant' injuries in automobile accident, placed on NFI list

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead reportedly suffered significant injuries during an automobile accident on Saturday, enough where it was warranted for the franchise to place him on the non-football injury list, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

“Bucs S Jordan Whitehead was involved in an automobile accident today and suffered injuries significant enough for the team to place him in the Non-football injury list,” Stroud posted on X.

The team confirmed the report later in the afternoon, revealing Whitehead won’t play in the Buccaneers’ regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints in Week 18. Additionally, they’ve signed safety Ryan Neal off their practice squad as a replacement.

“Jordan Whitehead was involved in an auto accident this morning on his way to our practice facility,” Buccaneers Communications posted on X. “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. We have signed Ryan Neal from our practice squad to the 53-man roster.”

Whitehead was in the midst of his seventh season in the NFL, and his fifth with the Buccaneers. He was drafted by the franchise out of Pittsburgh during the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent his first four seasons with Tampa Bay before playing with the New York Jets for two, and he returned to the franchise that gave him his start this past offseason.

All told, Whitehead has played in 105 career games, amassing 557 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 11 interceptions. Throughout the 2024 campaign, Whitehead has made 79 tackles, while adding three pass deflections to his statistics.

At the moment, the Buccaneers are in prime position to make the playoffs and win the NFC South, provided they defeat the lowly Saints in Week 18. Still, New Orleans will make it their mission to spoil the part for Tampa Bay, and try to ruin their dreams of making it to the playoffs.

It remains to be seen how severe the injuries Jordan Whitehead sustained are, and if he’s able to return during the 2024-2025 season. The playoffs are the destination he’s trying to get back for, but at the moment the thoughts and prayers of the football world are with the Buccaneers defender.