Buccaneers place Devin White, Shaq Barrett on reserve/COVID-19 list

January 01, 2021 - 4:35pm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) hits Atlanta Falcons tight end Luke Stocker (88) during the first half on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (John Bazemore/AP)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed linebackers Devin White and Shaq Barrett on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced on Friday.

The move means both White and Barrett will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

We've placed LBs Devin White and Shaq Barrett on the reserve/COVID-19 list.https://t.co/2upBzRmMAm

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 1, 2021

The Buccaneers have already clinched a playoff berth and have nothing to gain this weekend outside of playoff seeding so the loss of two key defensive players isn’t immediately detrimental. However, if one or both of White and Barrett has tested positive for COVID-19, they could be forced to miss Tampa’s wild-card game as a player who tests positive has to miss at least 10 days.

If either player tested positive, by NFL protocol, that player would have to miss at least 10 days. Neither have been ruled out for the wildcard playoff game but the date of the game may suddenly become important to the Bucs.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 1, 2021

White and Barrett are two of Tampa’s best defenders and have combined for 17 sacks this season.

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