Preparing for the last two weeks of the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shorthanded as Mike Evans and Jordan Whitehead have been placed on IR.
The injuries are piling up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Jordan Whitehead have been placed on injured reserve, ending their season. To balance out their roster, the Bucs promoted Spencer Schnell, who was signed to the practice squad earlier this week, to the active roster.
Filling Schnell’s roster spot on the practice squad, the Buccaneers also added former Florida Atlantic University defensive back Herb Miller to their practice squad. He was an undrafted rookie this summer and spent training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Schnell, a fan favorite, seemingly goes from not being on the roster, to the practice squad, to in position to see significant playing time on Sunday all in a span of two days. Look for Andrew Adams and Mike Edwards to get the starting spots at safety, with veteran Darian Stewart filling in when needed.
Bucs making moves -- Mike Evans and Jordan Whitehead have been placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons. Rookie receiver Spencer Schnell has been promoted to the 53-man roster.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 18, 2019
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Evans finishes his 2019 campaign with yet another 1,000 yard receiving season, tying Randy Moss’ record for most consecutive seasons to start a career hitting that mark. Making the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in six seasons, Evans recorded 1,157 yards through the air and eight touchdowns on 67 catches.
Whitehead, a fourth round pick from 2018, won the starting job full time this summer after stepping in due to injuries as a rookie, and did not look back. In 14 games for the Bucs this year, Whitehead tallied one interception and nine passes defended for the pewter and red defense; he also recorded four tackles for loss from the third level of the Bucs’ defense.
Peaking later than wished, the Buccaneers look to win their fifth in a row this Sunday as they take on the Houston Texans. They’ll have to get creative as they are down a handful of key players out with injuries; expect Schnell to get a handful of looks on Sunday.