TAMPA, Florida – Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not have three key members in their defense on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Internal linebacker Devin White, external linebacker Shaq Barrett and striker Steve McLendon were placed on the reserve / COVID-19 list on Friday.
Placing on the list means that a player has had a positive test or is considered a close contact with someone who did.
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 going on all week, however [he] was close to someone with a positive test. Therefore, it will remain in quarantine for the next five days, “posted Jordanna Barrett.
“It is not possible to control other people’s actions. Only ours. Regardless of how safe we are … and following all possible precautions. Sometimes people choose other choices that result in unfair circumstances. But rest assured for everyone who they ask. the ones who were reckless and exposed the team. So for the crazy fans … some things are out of our control. It is what it is. Shaquil will be back in the playoffs. “
The NFL’s COVID-19 protocols state that a close contact who continues the negative test for five consecutive days can return to the team. But if a player is positive, he must wait at least 10 days since his positive test was collected – or more, if he is showing symptoms – and has to be released by a doctor, which would jeopardize that player’s availability for the playoffs.
White’s 140 tackles are the third largest in the league and his nine sacks – including three two weeks ago, when the Bucs played against the Falcons – are a top team. Barrett has eight sacks, with him and White accounting for more than 36% of the Bucs’ total team this season.
The Bucs acquired the McLendon from the New York Jets in October to help replace Vita Vea, who landed in the injury reserve on week 5, and he helped maintain balance as the league’s best running defense.
The trio’s placement on the reserve / COVID-19 list is unrelated to the COVID-19 scare of defensive coordinator Todd Bowles this week, which was caused by a false positive test from a close contact. The Bucs anticipate that Bowles will be able to return to coach on Sunday.
The Bucs have already secured a place in the playoffs, but big implications remain for Sunday’s game. With a victory against Falcons, the Bucs would secure the fifth seed in the NFC, which would mean that they would face the undecided winner of a weak East NFC. If they lose on Sunday, and the Los Angeles Rams win the Arizona Cardinals, the Bucs face the Seattle Seahawks (11-4), the New Orleans Saints (11-4) or the Green Bay Packers (12-3).