TAMPA, Fla. — Good fortune, another critical component in the Bucs’ world title run a season ago, evidently has spilled over to the outset of 2021.
The Bucs will enter Thursday’s prime-time season opener against the Cowboys with no one on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and only one starter — fourth-year safety Jordan Whitehead — likely to miss the game.
Mike Edwards, who appeared in all 20 contests last season and had three interceptions (including a playoff pick against the Saints), would replace Whitehead, who is nursing a hamstring injury.
“Mike has shown that he’s more than ready and good enough to play a whole ball game,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said following Tuesday’s practice. “I have all the confidence in the world in him.”
The lone surprise on the latest injury report was receiver Chris Godwin participating on a limited basis Tuesday due to a quad issue. His status should be updated Wednesday.
The Bucs’ ability to avoid an injury or COVID-19 outbreak prevailed as a key factor in their Super Bowl run of 2020. Linebacker Devin White and tailback Ronald Jones II were the only starters to miss more than one game due to COVID-19 (both missed two), while tight end O.J. Howard and nose tackle Vita Vea were the lone starters to spend extensive time on injured reserve.
Vea, who fractured his ankle in early October, returned for the final two playoff games.
“Everybody else (aside from Whitehead) is ready to roll,” Arians said. “The physical preparation is over. Now it’s all mental from here to the ballgame — still a lot of work to do.”
