GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Linebacker Devin White informed the Bucs he “couldn’t go” before Sunday’s game at Green Bay after learning the team planned to start K.J. Britt against the Packers.
White had full participation in practice Thursday and Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday with a foot injury that forced him to miss the last two games.
Sometime prior to the game, White informed coach Todd Bowles he couldn’t play and was made inactive.
“We made him inactive based on him saying he couldn’t go today,” Bowles said following the Bucs’ 34-20 win over the Packers.
Did White say it was because of his foot injury?
“That’s probably a question for him but I’m sure he’d say his foot was sore,” Bowles said. “But he told me he couldn’t go so we played the guys we had to play.”
It’s another unsettling episode for White and one that may not sit well with Bowles or the front office.
White remained with the team and flew home with them Sunday following the game. He was not in the locker room during the portion open to the media and it’s unclear what his status will be with the team going forward.
The Bucs had no further comment on White.
The team’s fifth overall pick in the NFL draft in 2019, White is in the final year of his contract. He asked for a trade in March because he wanted a contract extension but decided to play under the $11.7 million club option after a meeting with Bowles and general manager Jason Licht in the spring.
The Bucs are riding a three-game winning streak with White out of the lineup. Britt played only a half-dozen snaps three weeks ago before suffering a back injury. He returned last Sunday and had eight tackles in a win over the Falcons. Britt had six tackles, including three solo, and one tackle for loss versus the Packers.
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