TAMPA, Florida – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without three key members of their defense Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
On Friday, inside defender Devin White, outside defender Shaq Barrett and defender Steve McLendon were ranked Friday on the reserve list / COVID-19.
Placement on the list means that a player has tested positive or has been considered close contact with someone who has.
The Bucs don’t reveal who is positive, but Barrett, a Pro Bowler in 2019, ended up on the list as a close contact, his wife wrote on Instagram.
“Shaquil ‘s is negative and has been all week, though [he] he was very close to someone who tested positive. Therefore, it will remain in quarantine for the next five days, “Jordanna Barrett posted.
“I can’t control other people’s actions. Only ours. Regardless of the security we’ve had … and following all possible precautions. Sometimes people choose other options that lead to unfair circumstances. But be safe. let everyone ask. those who were reckless and exposed the team. So the fans are crazy … some things are out of our control. That’s what it is. Shaquil will be back in the playoffs. “
NFL COVID-19 protocols state that close contact that continues to give negative results for five consecutive days can return to the computer. But if a player tests positive, he must wait at least 10 days since the positive test was collected (or more if he has symptoms) and must be cleaned by a doctor, which would jeopardize that player’s availability for in the playoffs.
White’s 140 attacks are the third most in the league and his nine sacks, including three two weeks ago, when the Bucs last played the Falcons, are a tall team. Barrett has eight sacks, with him and White accounting for more than 36% of Bucs ’total team this season.
The Bucs acquired McLendon from the New York Jets in October to help replace Vita Vea, who landed on the injured reserve in Week 5, and has helped keep his footing as the league’s best defense. position.
Placing the trio on the reserve / COVID-19 list has nothing to do with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles ’COVID-19 scare this week, which was caused by a false positive test of close contact. The Bucs anticipate the Bowles will be able to train again on Sunday.
The Bucs have already secured a place in the playoffs, but there are huge implications for Sunday’s game. With a win against the Falcons, the Bucs would get to fifth place in the NFC, which would mean they would face the winner yet to decide on a weak NFC East. If they lose on Sunday and the Los Angeles Rams win the Arizona Cardinals, the Bucs would face the Seattle Seahawks (11-4), New Orleans Saints (11-4) or Green Bay Packers (12-3).