For the first time in two weeks, Bucs’ rookie linebacker Devin White will have a chance to play on Sunday after coming back from a knee injury suffered in Week 2 at Carolina.

White has already had to overcome a series of health ailments early in his young career. He had tonsillitis before Week 1, which saw him lose 10 pounds, lose some of his voice, and require minor surgery just to play in his rookie debut. But he persevered through it and finished the game with six tackles.

The rookie linebacker then suffered a knee injury right before halftime in Week 2, missing the following two weeks, but has worked hard to get healthy enough to return with his teammates.

“At first I felt like the world was against me,” White said. “I just kept having thing after thing but I never got down on myself, it was always like what can I do to make sure I’m out there with my team? With the tonsillitis I went through minor surgery just so I can get back out there and I played in Game 1.

“We didn’t have the outcome that I would have loved to have but it showed that I’m willing to give my all for the Bucs, this is what I signed up to do. I’m going to give it my all, whether it’s whatever, I don’t care what’s wrong, as long as my heart and God say I can do it.”

LB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PewterReport.com

White was limited in practice on Wednesday with the knee injury, but it’s a step forward for the amount of time he’s been able to practice in the last three weeks. As far has his knee goes, White is not feeling any issues from it.

“It feels great,” White said. “Don’t feel anything really. I practiced a lot (Wednesday), I ran on the sidelines when I wasn’t in to make sure I’m in game shape getting ready to go.”

The Bucs next game is at the Saints on Sunday would be a homecoming for White if he can play. A native of Springhill, Louisiana, the Saints’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome is right in his backyard being just over an hour away. White also played in the state of Louisiana at LSU, where Tiger fans tend to travel well.

“It’s going to mean a lot to me,” White said about playing so close to home. “I have a lot of family members there, a lot of supporters there, too. It’s a great thing to come back to. Just got to keep preparing to be able to win.”

Should he make his return, White won’t get eased back in. He’ll have the important responsibility of stopping Saints’ running back Alvin Kamara, who is one of the best backs in the game. But White wouldn’t want it any other the way than with a competitive challenge.

“It’s a great week to come back to this,” said White. “Me and him, we know each other, we’re pretty cool. It’s kind of great to get to finally play him.”