Falcons Host 79-Tackle Free Agent Safety Coming Off of Injury

Training camp is underway, and the Atlanta Falcons are busy trying to fortify their roster.

With upgrades still available, general manager Terry Fontenot spent Wednesday checking out someone the Falcons know quite well from their time in the NFC South.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Atlanta worked out veteran safety Jordan Whitehead.

Whitehead, 28, signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to last season and played in 12 games before sustaining injuries in a car accident that ended his season prematurely.

Garafolo reported that Whitehead has been fully cleared to return to the field.

How Did Jordan Whitehead Get Injured?

Whitehead missed the Buccaneers’ final two games last season following his involvement in an auto accident last January.

According to Tampa police, Whitehead was driving a Corvette to the Buccaneers’ practice facility when he crashed into a GMC pickup truck. Whitehead, whom police cited was for careless driving, suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck and was placed on the reserve/non-football injury (NFI) list.

In 12 starts, Whitehead had 79 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three passes defended. Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked him 120th out of 171 eligible safeties, though he graded as a far better run defender (57th) than pass defender (128th).

Whitehead spent the previous two seasons with the New York Jets, including 2023 when he recorded a career-high four interceptions. A fourth-round draft pick out of Pittsburgh in 2018, Whitehead played his first four seasons with Tampa Bay.

Across 105 career games (101 starts), Whitehead has 557 tackles, 11 interceptions and 2.5 sacks.

How Can Jordan Whitehead Help the Falcons?

Whitehead would be an experienced, low-cost upgrade for the Falcons, who are currently strapped for cash. According to Over the Cap, they have just $4.89 million left in salary cap space, the fourth-lowest figure in the NFL.

Whitehead — who had nine tackles in a pair of losses to the Falcons last season — would join a safety group that includes Jesse Bates III, Jordan Fuller, DeMarcco Hellams and Xavier Watts, a third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame.

The Falcons struggled defensively last season, ranking 22nd against the pass (224.5 yards allowed/game) and 23rd in total defense (345.2 yards allowed/game).

Whitehead wouldn’t necessarily solve all the Falcons’ issues, but bringing in a player of his caliber can’t hurt.

There’s still time to sort things out before their Aug. 8 preseason opener against the Detroit Lions.