Bucs running back Rachaad White exited Tampa Bay’s first preseason game early on with a groin injury in their 29-7 win over the Titans. The veteran back was still in on the second offensive drive when after a routine running play, White hobbled over to the sideline and then laid down on the ground as trainers soon attended to him.

Rachaad White was going to be done soon anyway, but that put an immediate stop to his evening. Following the game, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles did not have an update about White’s injury but said that he would go through further testing the next day on Sunday.

Todd Bowles Gives Update On RB Rachaad White

The Tampa media also had a Zoom press conference on Sunday where Todd Bowles  was asked for more information about Rachaad White and his status. During the time of our conversation, White had not taken any tests yet, so Monday he’d have a better answer.

So Monday came along and we finally got the latest update about White. Although it wasn’t a grandiose response, the good news is that White’s injury doesn’t appear to be as bad was many feared it could be.

Bucs RB Rachaad White and QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s got a groin.” Bowles said. “He’s day to day.”

White did come out to Bucs’ practice on Monday but did not participate. He stood off to the side wearing his jersey but with a hat instead of a helmet. He seemed to be walking okay without too much restraint. Hopefully the Bucs were able to come out relatively unscathed with a very important player on their offense.

Which RBs Are Available For Bucs This Week?

There was more news at running back besides just Rachaad White. Undrafted free agent Josh Willams returned to practice for the first time in two weeks. It was a welcomed and needed site as other running back Owen Wright, fresh off an 87-yard, one touchdown performance on Saturday, was not practicing.

Williams, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker were the only active backs on Monday. Irving and Tucker got a fair share of reps but Williams was also very active rushing, running routes and catching passes. It was important for the Bucs to get a look of him considering the team only has five backs with just three available. Williams will be thrown right into it with the Bucs heading to Pittsburgh and having a joint practice on Thursday, plus a preseason game on Saturday.

Bucs RB Josh Williams – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s important for him to be out there,” Bowles said. “We got to see him. It’ll be great to see him under the lights. He’s missed sometime right now so he’s got some catching up to do. He’s a guy we were high on coming in so he’ll be a guy we’re interested in seeing on Saturday night.”

There’s doesn’t seem to be much concern over Wright being out on Monday, either. Bowles chalked it up to playing a lot of snaps in last week’s game.

“He took the bulk of the carries, he’s a little sore,” Bowles said. “We’ll see how he is at the end of the week.”

Bucs RB Owen Wright – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Wright and Williams presumably are in competition with each other to find some sort of role on this team. It could be as the fourth running back or waiting in the wings on the practice squad to see if they can be a game day call up at some point in the season. No starting job is up for grabs but it’s definitely two players with a lot to prove this week for Tampa Bay.