TAMPA, Fla. — All is good at the moment for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team went up to Lambeau and earned a marquee win against the Green Bay Packers Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive and stay in first of the NFC South.
But even in the midst of those good vibes, questions surfaced 90 minutes before kickoff after the Bucs announced their inactive players and Devin White was on the list.
The captain linebacker, who was officially listed as questionable before the game, did not play. Head coach Todd Bowles previously said on Friday that White was a gameday decision.
However, after being listed as a full participant in Thursday and Friday's practice, multiple reports say his absence was not injury-related.
After the game, Bowles dismissed those claims and told reporters he was out due to an injury.
"I made him inactive based on him saying that he couldn't go today," he said. "He said his foot was sore so we played the guys we had to play."
Tampa Bay announced on Saturday safety Ryan Neal was officially ruled out and upgraded defensive lineman Vite Vea to questionable, while on the day of the game, cornerback Josh Hayes was also ruled out.
None of those announcements included anything regarding White's situation, leading to speculation if there was a possible benching.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs were planning to start K.J. Britt over White against the Packers. When White, reportedly, heard of this decision, he then told Bowles he couldn't play.
Also, former Bucs player Richard Sherman said people close to the franchise told him similar information.
"The conversation that I understand was they said they would rotate him and start K.J. Britt but they'd bring Devin in and flip-flop them," Sherman said on Monday during Fox Sports' Undisputed. "Devin said he wasn't about that and not a rotational player. [He said he] would like to start and finish the game, which is understandable. He's been a great player in the NFL, he's been a Pro Bowler, but clearly, he's fallen out of grace with Todd Bowles and this defense for some reason."
Speaking to the media on Monday, Bowles continued to deny those reports, saying that he was only listening to what White told him.
"If they're injured and they say they can't go, what else are you going to do? We play ball. I've had captains hurt and I've had backups hurt – some say they can go and some say they can't. That's all about there is."
When asked why White was not announced on Saturday or Sunday that he was not going to play, Bowles said he was not able to communicate to team staff regarding his absence.
Britt, who has been the starting linebacker the past two games alongside Lavonte David, has impressed in his role. Moving forward, Bowles said if White is available, he will rotate the two players and see how it goes.
The timing of White's decision to not play comes after an offseason in which he requested a trade from the Bucs.
His reasoning for that was due to the Bucs not giving him a new contract.
The former LSU star has played through injuries this season and has logged two sacks and one interception in 12 games.
Has Devin White played his last game with Tampa Bay?
We'll see.
The Bucs hope to extend their winning streak to four games this weekend as Tampa Bay takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 4:05 p.m. Sunday inside Raymond James Stadium. That game can be watched on 10 Tampa Bay.
Be sure to watch The Blitz at 8:30 a.m. every Sunday only on 10 Tampa Bay as Sports Director Evan Closky and Sports Anchor David Schiele give you full Bucs coverage leading up to each game.