Buccaneers inactives list for Week 16 vs. Jaguars
- Every key player is healthy for Tampa Bay
- Trevor Lawrence is cleared to play and will start at QB
By Josh Hill
Two injury narratives seemed to dominate the week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one on either side of the field.
Internally, the team learned it was being investigated for how it handled Devin White's injury status last Sunday in Green Bay. White was a surprise inactive ahead of kickoff, with initial reports indicating that it wasn't injury-related.
Todd Bowles clapped back at this, going as far as to say he knew on Friday that White wouldn't play. Some would say Bowles went too far in that explination, as he essentially admitted to lying about the injury report that was submitted to the league, as White was listed as 'questionable' rather than 'out', which is what should have been the case if the team truly knew he wasn't playing.
All sorts of drama unfolded from the fiasco, not the least of which was a report that White was wearing out his welcome in the locker room. Things smoothed out as the week went on, as the injury narrative flipped to the Jacksonville Jaguars side and whether or not Trevor Lawrence would play.
Lawrence entered concussion protocol after the Jags loss last Sunday night to the Ravens, and he wasn't cleared until right before the team made its trip to Tampa on Saturday. After walkthroughs on Sunday morning, it was determined that Lawrence was healthy enough to play and was named the starter.
Buccaneers inactives for Week 16 vs. Jaguars (Updated)
One potential concern for the Bucs was the status of Antoine Winfield Jr., who popped up on the injury report Friday. Tampa Bay was pretty mum over the weekend about whether he'd play, slapping a 'quesitonable' designation on him, but he will suit up and start against the Jaguars on Sunday.
That means every key player for the Buccaneers is healthy and playing, with White making his return alongside Carlton Davis III.
- LB J.J. Russell
- OLB Markees Watts
- OL Brandon Walton
- DL Deadrin Senat
- QB John Wolford