The Buccaneers got a welcome sign on Wednesday, but Antoine Winfield Jr.’s Week 7 availability is still up in the air.
Winfield returned to practice after sitting out the previous two games because of a rib injury he picked up against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. The team’s October 21 update showed the safety working in a non-contact jersey, a clear sign of progress without quite getting him back to full speed.
“He's recovering,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “He's going to have to practice first for him to come back and not have a non-contact jersey on.
So I think he's getting there. I don't know if he's there yet.
We'll see what tomorrow and Friday bring.”
On the injury report, Winfield was listed as a limited participant Wednesday. That at least gives Tampa Bay something to hang onto before Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, but the real test will come if he can shed the non-contact designation before the weekend.
The timing matters. The Buccaneers are coming off a painful 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game they controlled for most of the day before letting a 16-3 lead slip away in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay had trouble getting off the field late, and that’s exactly where Winfield’s presence could matter most.
His value is obvious. Winfield gives the Buccaneers flexibility in coverage, against the run, and near the line of scrimmage. That kind of range could be especially useful against a Carolina offense led by quarterback Bryce Young and running back Chuba Hubbard.
Tampa Bay enters Week 7 at 1-5, so Sunday’s NFC South matchup carries obvious weight. Wednesday was a positive step for Winfield, but the Buccaneers still need Thursday and Friday to tell the rest of the story.
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