The Bucs received some bad news prior to kickoff of Sunday’s divisional game against the Saints in New Orleans. Running back Rachaad White will in fact miss the game due to an ankle injury. White, who was listed as doubtful on Friday’s injury report, suffered an ankle sprain on his final carry in Atlanta on Thursday.

He tried to practice on it during the week, but it got worse and not better. After being a limited participant on Wednesday’s practice, White did not practice on Thursday or Friday.

The Bucs hinted that White would be out with the practice squad elevation of running back D.J. Williams, who will serve as the third-string running back on Sunday. The plan is to start rookie running back Bucky Irving with Sean Tucker serving as RB2 in New Orleans. Both Irving and Tucker are also the team’s kick returners.

White is the Bucs’ second-leading rusher with 51 carries for 187 yards (3.7 avg.) behind Irving, who has 44 carries for 247 yards (5.6 avg.) and one touchdown. White ripped off Tampa Bay’s longest run of the year with a career-long 56-yarder in Atlanta last week.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

He also is the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 17 catches for 127 yards (7.5 avg.), in addition to being Tampa Bay’s best pass-protecting back. It will be interesting to see how Irving and Tucker fare in pass protection, which is not their strong suit.

Tampa Bay will also be without starting center Graham Barton (hamstring), safety Christian Izien (elbow/groin) and wide receivers Trey Palmer (concussion) and Kameron Johnson (ankle). All four of those players were listed as out on the Friday final injury report.

The Bucs will insert Robert Hainsey, a previous two-year starter, in at center for Barton. The Bucs are 2-0 at New Orleans with Hainsey at center. To help bolster the receiving corps, the team elevated practice squad receiver Ryan Miller to the game day roster.

Bucs Get Some Good Injury News, Too

While the Bucs will be without starting running back Rachaad White, the team did receive some good news on the injury front for the Saints game. Starting right tackle Luke Goedeke, who has been out of action with a concussion since Week 1, will return to the lineup. Goedeke was listed as questionable on the Friday final injury report, but he will play. He’ll have his hands full with Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson, who is the leading sacker with three along the defensive line in New Orleans.

Bucs Ss Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay will also see the return of pass-rushing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who will make his 2024 debut in New Orleans. Kancey missed the first five games of the season due to a calf injury similar to the one he suffered at the start of the season last year.

Kancey joins the likes of Logan Hall, who is the team’s leading sacker with three, and Vita Vea, who has two on the season with both sacks coming in the past two games. The Saints could be down to their fourth-string center on Sunday. Starter Erik McCoy is on injured reserve, as is backup center Shane Lemieaux.

Third-string center Lucas Patrick started at Kansas City on Monday night, but suffered a chest injury and hasn’t practiced all week. Connor McGovern could be the starter for the Saints, who will have fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler making his first NFL start against Tampa Bay.

The Bucs will also have the starting safety tandem of Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead available in New Orleans. Winfield has been out since Week 1 with a foot injury and Whitehead left the Falcons game with an injured groin. Both were listed as questionable.

And rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who missed the Eagles and the Falcons games with an injured hamstring will also play versus the Saints. McMillan could replace Trey Palmer as the team’s punt returner on Sunday.