The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into the 2025 season with a lot of excitement, but one of the biggest storylines this preseason has been the health of running back Rachaad White. Fans held their breath when White left the team’s first preseason game with a groin injury, and the immediate question was simple: how long would he be out?
Will Rachaad White Play in Week 1?
The injury happened early in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans. On what looked like a routine 12-yard run, White pulled up and walked off the field, ending his night after six carries for 28 yards.
Tampa Bay had jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the bigger concern was whether the injury would linger into the regular season. Since groin issues can be tricky, the team wasted no time shutting him down for the rest of the game.
Thankfully, the news that followed was far more encouraging. Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters the injury was not serious, describing White as “day-to-day.”
Further testing confirmed that, showing no major damage. White returned to practice this week, a clear sign that he is on track to suit up when the Bucs open the season against the Atlanta Falcons.
Of course, the timing of the injury came right as running back Bucky Irving was making a name for himself. Irving’s breakout performance has been one of the highlights of camp, and it has led to plenty of speculation about how the Buccaneers might divide the workload.
Some even wondered if White could become trade bait down the line. For now, though, the team has no plans to move him.
White’s Fantasy Outlook
White is a great pass-catcher out of the backfield, but there’s not a lot of explosiveness to his game. He’s already been overtaken by Bucky Irving in the Bucs’ backfield, and now there’s a chance that the same can happen, but with Sean Tucker.
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This is exactly the type of pick to avoid in all formats. White’s entire value is on a heavy role in the passing game, but Irving is a good receiver in his own right, so there’s a chance that Tucker is the better fit as the complementary back. You can wait a few rounds to take Tucker, making him the much more appealing option.
Don’t get caught up in White’s prior production, as that role is long gone. That was at a time when he got a lot of usage in Tampa, but it’s Bucky’s backfield now. I’d look elsewhere from White if I needed a veteran back with standalone value. If I wanted a similar archetype, I’d go with Austin Ekeler, who actually looked explosive last season.