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

He tried to practice on it over the course of the week, but it got worse, not better. After having limited attendance at practice on Wednesday, White did not practice on Thursday and Friday.

The Bucs indicated that this meant White would be out Running back DJ Williams was promoted to practice squad, who will serve as the third-string running back on Sunday. The plan is to start rookie running back Bucky Irving while Sean Tucker serves as the 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 average) behind Irving, who has 44 carries for 247 yards (5.6 average) and one touchdown. White made Tampa Bay’s longest run of the year with a career-long 56-yarder last week in Atlanta.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

He is also the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 17 catches for 127 yards (7.5-yard average) and is also Tampa Bay’s best pass protection defender. It will be interesting to see how Irving and Tucker perform in pass protection, which is not their strength.

Tampa Bay is also 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 Friday’s most recent injury report.

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

The Bucs are also receiving some good injury news

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

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 debut in New Orleans in 2024. Kancey missed the first five games of the season due to a calf injury similar to the one he sustained early in the season last year.

Kancey joins players like Logan Hall, who is the team’s leading sacker with three sacks, and Vita Vea, who has two sacks this season, with both sacks coming in the last two games. The Saints could be because of them Middle of the fourth string on Sunday. Starter Erik McCoy is on injured reserve, as is backup center Shane Lemieaux.

Third-team center Lucas Patrick started Monday night in Kansas City but suffered a pectoral injury and was unable to practice 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 also have starting safety tandem 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 a groin injury. Both were listed as questionable.

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