Just when the Bucs were hoping to have their entire secondary back together again for Sunday’s game in Atlanta, head coach Bruce Arians dropped a bombshell during Friday’s press conference. Arians ruled starting strong safety Jordan Whitehead out for Sunday.

Tampa Bay already lost a safety this week when Mike Edwards was suspended for three games by the NFL along with receiver Antonio Brown for violating COVID protocols. Edwards had two pick-sixes against the Falcons in Week 2 and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week as a result.

Whitehead was listed on the injury report with a calf injury on Thursday, which is when the injury occurred. When asked if it was a significant calf injury, Arians replied: “Very – very, well see. His MRI can’t happen until his swelling goes down. We’ll probably get it sometime tomorrow and then we’ll know more.”

Bucs S Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs hoped to have starting cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean back in action this week so that Tampa Bay’s starting secondary could reunite for the first time since Week 1 when Sean Murphy-Bunting was lost for the half the season due to a dislocated elbow against the Cowboys. Davis and Dean practiced all week and are expected to play.

But Whitehead’s injury, which could linger for weeks, disrupts the plan of having all of the starters ready to face the Falcons.

Dean missed most of last week due to a shoulder injury he suffered in the first quarter while making a tackle. Davis, who has been out since Week 4 when he suffered a quad injury, is expected to be activated off injured reserve and onto the active roster before Sunday.

With Whitehead out, the Bucs will likely start veteran Andrew Adams opposite Antoine Winfield, Jr. with Ross Cockrell moving to safety as a reserve. Tampa Bay has an open roster spot and would likely sign either Chris Cooper or Troy Warner from the practice squad to the active roster.