Wikipedia

Lucky Whitehead

Rodney Darnell "Lucky" Whitehead Jr.[1] (born June 2, 1992) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played high school football at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia. He played college football at Florida Atlantic, and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He has also been a member of the New York Jets and BC Lions.

Lucky Whitehead
refer to caption
Whitehead with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2024
No. 13 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1992-06-02) June 2, 1992 (age 32)
Manassas, Virginia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:177 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High school:Osbourn
(Manassas, Virginia)
College:Florida Atlantic
Undrafted:2015
Career history
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:9
Receiving yards:64
Rushing yards:189
Return yards:1,151
Total touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Career CFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions:248
Receiving yards:3,192
Rushing yards:118
Total return yards:1,099
Total touchdowns:16
Stats at CFL.ca

Early life

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Whitehead was born in Manassas, Virginia on June 2, 1992.[2] He attended George C. Round Elementary and Osbourn High School where he played wide receiver and cornerback on the football team, while being named All-Conference as a senior.

College career

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Whitehead moved on to Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, where he played wide receiver and return specialist, receiving All-American and All-Conference honors. In 2013, he transferred to Florida Atlantic University and registered 284 all-purpose yards. As a senior, Whitehead was the team's slot receiver, registering 76 receptions, which led the conference, for 706 yards and six touchdowns, 21 carries for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and a 24.7-yard average on kickoff returns. He had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown in his last college game against Old Dominion University

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+1⁄2 in
(1.77 m) 		179 lb
(81 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		8+7⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.39 s 1.54 s 2.54 s 4.18 s 6.89 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)		 20 reps
All values from Pro Day[3][4]

Dallas Cowboys

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Whitehead with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.

2015 season

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Whitehead was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2015 NFL draft.[5] He made the team as one of the players that was looked upon to replace the departed Dwayne Harris special teams production. Although wide receiver Cole Beasley was the assigned punt returner early in the season, because he provided better ball security, Whitehead was given opportunities until earning the returner role for the final six games. He only averaged 5.8 yards per attempt as a punt returner, but showed glimpses as a kickoff returner (28.3 yards avg.), like his 79-yard kickoff return against the Philadelphia Eagles or his key 46-yard kickoff return against the Washington Redskins to set up the game-winning field goal with 14 seconds left.[6] Whitehead was used on offense with special runs designed for him. In the sixth game of the season against the New York Giants, he set a franchise record for a wide receiver with four rushing attempts. He finished the 2015 season with 10 rushes for 107 yards and six receptions for 16 yards.[7]

2016 season

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In the preseason opener, which was the first NFL game in Los Angeles since 1994,[8] against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Whitehead returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. In addition, he had one catch for six yards and one rushing attempt for 11 yards. In Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers, Whitehead caught a career-long 35-yard reception from quarterback Dak Prescott,[9] as well as a season-long 26 yard run.[10] Whitehead experienced problems during the season, like his critical fumble during a run against the Minnesota Vikings. The next week after being late to team meetings on the Saturday before the trip to New York, he was subsequently left home, fined and de-activated against the New York Giants.[11] Whitehead remained more effective as a runner out of the backfield than at wide receiver, and was inconsistent as a return specialist. He shared the returner role with Beasley and running back Lance Dunbar, especially in critical situations, when better ball security was required.[12] He had a total of three fumbles, losing two.

2017 season

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On July 24, 2017, it was revealed that Whitehead was facing misdemeanor petty larceny charges stemming from an arrest in June having stolen $25 of goods from a Wawa convenience store in Prince William County, Virginia and skipped court summons. Later that day after the team's first training camp practice, he was released by the Cowboys.[13][14] The charges were dropped and he was cleared by the police when it was determined the next day that the charges were based on mistaken identity.[15]

New York Jets

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On July 26, 2017, Whitehead was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.[16] On August 16, 2017, it was revealed that Whitehead would undergo surgery for a fractured foot he suffered in practice, with an estimated recovery time of four to six weeks.[17] He was waived/injured on September 2, 2017 and was placed on injured reserve.[18] He was released by the team on September 11, 2017. He was re-signed to the Jets' practice squad on November 24, 2017.[19] He was promoted to the active roster on December 30, 2017.[20] On August 26, 2018, Whitehead was waived/injured by the Jets and was placed on injured reserve.[21] He was released on August 31, 2018.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (first stint)

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Whitehead signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on May 9, 2019.[22] He had a breakout performance in Week 3 of the 2019 regular season, catching 7 passes for 155 yards with two touchdowns.[23] Whitehead finished the year with 52 catches for 521 yards and two touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and one kickoff return for a score in 15 regular season games. He was on the injured list during the Blue Bombers' playoff run, but was part of the 107th Grey Cup championship team. He did not play in 2020 following the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season and became a free agent in 2021.

BC Lions

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On the first day of free agency in 2021, Whitehead signed with the BC Lions on February 9, 2021.[24] On October 4, 2021, the Lions announced that Whitehead would undergo surgery after breaking his hand in during a Week 9 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. At the time of the injury Whitehead was second in the league in receiving yards with 665, trailing only Kenny Lawler.[25] The injury kept him out of the lineup for three weeks and two games as he returned for the October 30 matchup against the Toronto Argonauts. He finished with 60 receptions for 932 yards and four touchdowns in just 12 games played as he was named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career.[26] On February 13, 2024, Whitehead's contract with the Lions expired and he became a free agent.[27]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (second stint)

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On July 8, 2024, it was announced that Whitehead had signed with the Blue Bombers.[28]

Personal life

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Whitehead was given the nickname "Lucky" by his cousin.[2] In July 2017, Whitehead posted on Instagram that his dog, Blitz, was stolen and held for ransom.[29] The following day, Whitehead posted on Snapchat, confirming that Blitz was safely returned to him.[30] Whitehead said that he refused to write a check for $10,000, as the perpetrator had initially demanded, but agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of money after making sure Blitz was okay.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Cowboys release Lucky Whitehead after missed arraignment on shoplifting charge". Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Taylor, Nate (October 1, 2014). "Lucky Whitehead lives up to nickname for FAU". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "2015 Draft Scout Lucky Whitehead, Florida Atlantic NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rodney Whitehead 2015 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  5. ^ "Lucky Whitehead hopes No. 13 is lucky". June 17, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead making big plays on offense, special teams". December 9, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  7. ^ "Lucky Whitehead 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  8. ^ Farmer, Sam (August 10, 2016). "Rams expand Coliseum capacity for Dallas, Seattle games - LA Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  9. ^ "Whitehead Logs First Reception of 2016 On Crucial Third Down". Dallas Cowboys. October 17, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  10. ^ "Lucky Whitehead 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  11. ^ "Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead apologizes to teammates". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  12. ^ "Whitehead Has Flashed Potential, But Remains Inconsistent". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  13. ^ Phillips, Rob (July 24, 2017). "Cowboys Release Lucky Whitehead Following Reports Of WR's June Arrest". DallasCowboys.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017.
  14. ^ "Cowboys cut Lucky Whitehead after reported arrest". NFL.com. July 24, 2017. Archived from the original on July 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "Police say Lucky Whitehead was misidentified; arrested man gave false information". ESPN.com. July 26, 2017.
  16. ^ Allen, Eric (July 26, 2017). "Jets Claim WR-KR Lucky Whitehead". NewYorkJets.com.
  17. ^ "Lucky Whitehead to have surgery on foot". NFL. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  18. ^ Lange, Randy (September 2, 2017). "Jets Reduce to 53 with 23 Player Moves". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017.
  19. ^ Allen, Eric (November 24, 2017). "WR-KR Lucky Whitehead Added to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (December 30, 2017). "Jets Place RB Forté on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com.
  21. ^ Lange, Randy (August 26, 2018). "Jets Sign QB John Wolford". NewYorkJets.com.
  22. ^ "Bombers sign receiver Lucky Whitehead". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. May 9, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "2019-06-27 Game Tracker - Edmonton Eskimos vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2568)". CFL.ca. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  24. ^ "Feelin' lucky | Lions land free agent playmaker Lucky Whitehead". BC Lions. February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  25. ^ "Lucky Whitehead surgery BC Lions - TSN.ca". TSN. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  26. ^ "Stars aligned: 2021 CFL All-Stars announced". Canadian Football League. December 15, 2021.
  27. ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  28. ^ "BLue Bombers add receiver Lucky Whitehead to practice roster". Canadian Football League. July 8, 2024.
  29. ^ Goldberg, Rob (July 17, 2017). "Cowboys WR Lucky Whitehead Says Dog Was Stolen, Being Held for Ransom". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  30. ^ a b "Lucky Whitehead posts stolen dog Blitz is 'home safely'". ESPN. July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
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