It was already well known that the Bucs were going to be without the services of Jordan Whitehead for an extended period of time, but they made it official on Friday by moving him to injured reserve. The designation means he is out for at least four weeks. Prior to the injury, Tampa Bay claimed safety Mike Edwards on waivers.

That move may prove to be fortuitous when the season comes to a close, whenever that might be.

Bucs Ss Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Less than a week after re-joining the team he won a Super Bowl with in 2020, Edwards was back on the field in game action for 23 snaps in Week 12 against the Giants. The Bucs have been trying desperately to get to a dime package on obvious passing downs since they lost cover-specialist linebacker SirVocea Dennis in Week 4. But injuries have conspired to prevent that dream from becoming a reality.

Free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was injured in Week 1 and didn’t return until Week 6. Slot corner Tykee Smith has missed Weeks 8 and 11. Cornerback Jamel Dean was absent Weeks 7 through 10.

Despite Smith’s absence last week, the Bucs were finally able to get to the dime package they’ve been seeking because of the addition of Mike Edwards. Of his 23 snaps, 91% were passing plays. When Edwards was on the field, the Giants averaged just 3.6 yards per play, a 39% success rate and were only 2-for-6 on third downs.

Mike Edwards Provides Needed Coverage Ability In Defensive Backfield

Christian Izien played well against Denver earlier in the season filling in for Winfield. But his best games have consistently been as a nickel rather than as a top-down defender. Mike Edwards has more experience and shows more comfort working as a deep safety. With Whitehead on IR and Smith ruled out this week against Carolina, each will be able to play in their best role.

Edwards has a knack for the ball as evidenced by his nine interceptions from 2019 to 2021 during his original run with the Bucs. Edwards has a good feel for how receivers try to find room against zone coverage and keeps his eyes on the quarterback. That allows him to cut crossers and make plays on the ball so catches are more difficult for receivers.

Mike Edwards picking up and cutting the Wan’Dale Robinson crosser.

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— Josh Queipo (@joshqueipo.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 6:53 PM

Mike Edwards nearly picked up where he left off in Tampa lol. Awesome jump on the in-breaker to force the incompletion. pic.twitter.com/q6t1g5XRac

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) November 26, 2024

Where The Trade-Offs Come For The Bucs

Browns RB Nick Chubb, Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and S Mike Edwards – Photo by: USA Today

Mike Edwards has already shown he can improve the Bucs’ pass defense. Especially when Smith returns and Tampa Bay can get back to dime packages on third downs.

But with him taking the place of Whitehead, the team will take a small hit in run defense. The Bucs haven’t been elite in run defense this season like in years past. They are 21st in EPA/rush allowed at -0.02. And allowing 121 yards per game puts them 16th in the NFL. That number would be worse, but most teams they have faced have chosen pass-heavy game plans to take advantage of an even more porous pass defense.

Edwards is slower to trigger downfield than either Whitehead or Izien. His 17% missed tackle rate is the highest of the three. His career average depth of tackle in the run game is 6.8 as opposed to Whitehead’s 4.7 and Izien’s 6.4.

But having Edwards in for Whitehead will tilt the positioning of the Bucs’ safeties. When Winfield was originally paired with Whitehead from 2020 to 2021, he played deep safety between 66% and 70% of the time. During the past two seasons, that rate fell to about 50%. Some of that was due to him being in the slot in 2022. But in 2023, his deep safety rate was around 60%.

This year, with Whitehead back in the fold, that rate ballooned back to 65%. Winfield is at his best when he gets a good mix of deep and box opportunities. Edwards’ return could help ensure those rates remain mixed well.