The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed defensive back Christian Izien on injured reserve, the team announced Thursday. Izien suffered a pectoral injury in the Buccaneers’ Week 16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Izien, who converted to safety this offseason, started 10 of 14 games for Tampa Bay this year at both safety and nickel cornerback. The second-year pro out of Rutgers played the second-most defensive snaps (779) of any Bucs DB in 2024.
Izien’s Versatile Role in Bucs Secondary
After being drafted as a cornerback, Izien made the switch to safety and earned a starting role amidst numerous injuries in the Buccaneers’ secondary. His ability to play multiple positions provided much-needed flexibility.
- Week 1 vs. Washington: Played outside CB for nearly two quarters after in-game injuries to Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall, and Josh Hayes
- 10 starts in 2024: Lined up at both safety and nickel CB
- 779 defensive snaps: Second-most among Bucs DBs behind only Zyon McCollum
Bucs Secondary Ravaged by Injuries
Izien is just the latest casualty in a Buccaneers defensive backfield that has rarely been fully healthy in 2024:
- All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has missed 6 games, including the last 2 with a knee injury
- Starting safety Jordan Whitehead was placed on IR after tearing a pectoral in Week 12
- Cornerback Jamel Dean has missed 4 games with a hamstring issue
- Nickel CB Tykee Smith has been sidelined for 4 games with a concussion and knee injury
Impact on Bucs’ Playoff Push
At 8-7, the Buccaneers are currently tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South lead. However, Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker after sweeping the season series.
Tampa Bay will need to win out and hope for a Falcons slip-up to make the playoffs. Losing the versatile Izien is a blow to their already thin secondary as they prepare to face the Carolina Panthers in a critical Week 17 matchup.
Izien’s injury, even with the potential for both Whitehead and Winfield to return prior to the season ending, gives the Bucs fewer options in Todd Bowles’ defensive sub-packages.
The Buccaneers narrowly defeated the Panthers 26-23 in overtime back in Week 13. With their playoff hopes on the line, they’ll need their patchwork secondary to rise to the occasion without one of their most reliable contributors in Izien.
