As expected, Bucs inside linebacker Devin White showed up to Tampa Bay’s mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday.

And as expected, White did not participate in the first practice. Nor is he expected to participate in any of the mini-camp practices this week.

By showing up at the AdventHealth Training Center and ending his offseason holdout over a contract dispute, White avoids being fined by the Bucs. Even if he doesn’t practice. White has skipped all of the team’s offseason workouts and OTAs (organized team activities), all of which were voluntary.

But is White going from a holdout to a hold-in? That is where a player attends practice, but doesn’t participate due to a contract dispute. San Francisco wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James were all hold-ins last summer in training camp until their contract disputes were resolved.

After Tuesday’s practice Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was asked if White was a hold-in.

“No, it’s not a hold-in [situation],” Bowles said. “We’d like to see where he is physically, so we don’t feel like we need to put him out here right now until we test him and do everything. Two or three days of [mini-] camp is not going to help him that much.”

Is Todd Bowles Just Defending Devin White Again?

Bucs ILBs Devin White and Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Is Todd Bowles telling the truth about Devin White? Or is he covering for his prized pupil, as Bowles has done before? After the Baltimore game last season when Bucs Hall of Famer Warren Sapp called out White for loafing, failing to get off blocks and questioning his effort, Bowles defended White from the podium in a press conference more than once.

There were a couple of Bucs players – center Ryan Jensen and guard Aaron Stinnie – who are coming off injuries that participated in individual drills, but not team drills during the first mini-camp practice. White is 26 and is healthy as a horse. An athlete still well in his prime, White looked like he’s been working out on his own this offseason. He couldn’t have donned a helmet and cleats and participated in individual drills with the team at least?

“Not for two days, no,” Bowles said, indicating that White wasn’t physically ready to go. “We’ll run tests and do all the lifting and running stuff inside and he’ll be ready for training camp.”

When Bowles was confronted with the fact that 33-year old linebacker Lavonte David also finally showed up after missing the offseason work this summer, Bowles revealed that David had in fact shown up for a couple of the voluntary days and was deemed ready to go. David participated in every practice period on Tuesday.

The fact that the Bucs are supposedly holding White out of mini-camp seems a bit suspicious, doesn’t it?

The Bucs Expect Devin White To Participate In Training Camp, But Will He?

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Todd Bowles was asked what Devin White’s mindset was this week upon his arrival after the team did not extend his contract nor trade him this offseason, as he requested after the Bucs insisted he play on his fifth-year option. White is scheduled to make $11.706 million in base salary in 2023.

“His mindset is good,” Bowles said. “It’s just business, that’s part of it. That takes care of itself. He’ll be ready for training camp and he’ll be good to go.”

Either Bowles is being straightforward, or it seems like White may in fact be a hold-in – but the team doesn’t want six weeks of media coverage about it during the summer break.

White didn’t speak with the media on Tuesday and likely won’t during the team’s mini-camp. But White could sure clear this up by addressing his holdout, his trade request and his decision not to practice during mini-camp by holding a press conference this week.

Instead, White was a bystander on Tuesday, watching as rookie inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, a fifth-round pick, picked off a Kyle Trask pass and returned it for a touchdown. Dennis has been impressive in every OTA and started off mini-camp with a bang.

At least Devin White was there to see it.