Jordan Whitehead: Everything you need to know

Whitehead (neck) has been medically cleared of the injuries he sustained in a car accident in January, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Following the scary incident back in January, Whitehead is now ready to resume football activities. The 28-year-old was cut by the Buccaneers as a cap casualty in February after starting all 12 games he appeared in last season and recording 79 tackles. The safety has been reliable throughout his career starting each of the last 76 games he's been healthy for, and he'll visit the Falcons on Wednesday in search of his new home.

The Buccaneers informed Whitehead (neck) on Wednesday that his $3.75 million team option for 2025 will be declined, making him an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 12, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Tampa Bay will move on from the soon-to-be 28-year-old safety after he started 12 games in 2024 and finished with 79 tackles (49 solo) and three pass breakups. He missed the team's regular-season finale and its loss to the Commanders in the wild-card round due to a neck injury sustained in a car accident, but his availability for the start of the 2025 season doesn't appear to be in any peril.

The injury Whitehead suffered in an automobile accident Saturday is considered neck-related, though the issue is not believed to be a long-term concern, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Whitehead sustained the injury while driving to the Buccaneers' practice facility early Saturday and was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list later in the day, bringing an end to his 2024 season. While Whitehead's long-term prognosis is promising, his absence for Week 18 and a potential playoff run is another big hit to an injury-ravaged Tampa Bay secondary. The Buccaneers currently have three other defensive backs on injured reserve and have ruled out starting cornerback Jamel Dean (knee) and starting safety Antoine Winfield (knee) for Sunday's game against the Saints.