Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Scores touchdown in return
Rotowire
Winfield totaled four tackles (all solo), defensed a pass and returned a fumble for a touchdown in a 51-27 Week 6 win against New Orleans.
Winfield saw his first action since Week 1, as he missed four weeks due to a sprained foot. The star safety logged a modest four tackles Sunday, but he still made a big impact by recovering a first-quarter Saints fumble for a 58-yard touchdown. That was Winfield's first career TD in his fifth NFL season.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Back in action in Week 6
Rotowire
Winfield (foot) is listed as active Sunday in New Orleans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Winfield has been sidelined since Week 1 due to a sprained foot, but after managing limited sessions Wednesday through Friday and entering the weekend as questionable, he'll be back in the lineup along with fellow starting safety Jordan Whitehead (groin). In 60 career regular-season contests, Winfield has averaged 6.5 tackles per game, tallied 15.0 sacks and recorded seven interceptions, making him an IDP stalwart in the Buccaneers defense.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Could play in Week 6
Rotowire
Winfield (foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Winfield hasn't played since sustaining a foot injury in the Buccaneers' Week 1 win over the Commanders. However, he's got a chance to return Sunday after a week of limited practice sessions. If Winfield isn't able to make his return in Week 6, expect Kaevon Merriweather to serve as Tampa Bay's top strong safety.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Returns to practice Wednesdy
Rotowire
Winfield (foot) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice session.
Prior to Wednesday's session, Winfield hadn't participated in practice or played in a game since Week 1 against the Commanders due to a foot injury. It's a step in the right direction for the 2020 second-round pick, but Winfield will need to continue to see the field this week if he wants to return for Sunday's NFC South clash against the Steelers.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Will miss Week 3
Rotowire
Coach Todd Bowles said Winfield (foot) will not play Sunday against the Broncos, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Winfield suffered a foot injury in Week 1 and was given an initial timetable of 3-to-4 weeks, so perhaps a Week 4 return against the Eagles is more doable. Christian Izien and Jordan Whitehead each played all 85 defensive snaps at safety last week against the Lions.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Winfield (foot) was listed as a DNP for Wednesday's practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Winfield sustained a foot injury in Week 1 against the Broncos. Winfield could be out three to four weeks, with two weeks considered a "best-case" scenario, per Laine. Winfield is unlikely to play Week 3 against the Broncos, but the 2020 second-round pick could return to practice in a limited capacity Thursday or Friday.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Officially out for Week 2
Rotowire
Winfield (foot) has been ruled out for the Buccaneers' Week 2 contest against the Lions, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
This comes as no surprise, as the fifth-year safety is expected to miss three to four weeks after sustaining a foot injury during the Buccaneers' Week 1 win. Expect Christian Izien to line up alongside Jordan Whitehead in Tampa Bay's secondary while Winfield remains sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Expected to miss time
Rotowire
Winfield (foot) is expected to miss a couple of weeks after suffering a foot injury in Sunday's win over the Commanders, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
Winfield was in a walking boot Monday, and head coach Todd Bowles was uncertain of the 26-year-old's availability for Week 2. However, Schultz's report suggests the All-Pro safety is looking at a multi-week absence. More clarity on his status should come when the team releases its first injury report later in the week. If Winfield can't play this Sunday against the Lions, Christian Izien is expected to get the start at safety.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Thrives in contract year
Rotowire
Winfield finished the 2023 regular season with 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries across 17 regular-season games. He added five tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed in two postseason contests.
The fourth-year safety's tackle, interception, passes defensed, forced fumbles and fumble recovery totals all qualified as career highs. Winfield certainly picked an opportune time for a breakout campaign, considering he's set to hit free agency at the start of the new league year in March. However, given his importance to the Buccaneers defense, it would appear likely the team makes a serious attempt to retain him before he enters the open market.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Records sack in season finale
Rotowire
Winfield recorded five sacks (four solo), including a sack, in the Buccaneers' 9-0 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Winfield's tackle total checked in third on the afternoon for the Buccaneers, and it included his career-high sixth sack of the season. The fourth-year safety established new personal bests in tackles (122), interceptions (three), passes defensed (12), forced fumbles (six) and fumble recoveries (four) across 17 games, and he'll be a key asset once again when he faces the Eagles in Monday night's home wild-card matchup.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Picks off pass in victory
Rotowire
Winfield notched three tackles (all solo), including one sack, and added an interception and a fumble recovery in Sunday's 30-12 win over Jacksonville.
Winfield tied his season-low mark in stops, but he nonetheless played a significant part in Tampa Bay's victory. The star safety intercepted a Trevor Lawrence pass in the second quarter, sacked Lawrence later in the period, and recovered an Evan Engram fumble in the fourth. Winfield entered the weekend deemed questionable due to a calf injury, but he played 67 percent of the Buccaneers' defensive snaps Sunday and appeared to come away without any setbacks.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Pops up on Friday injury report
Rotowire
Winfield (calf) did not participate in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Winfield was a full participant in the first two practices of the week, but didn't practice Friday, and his status for Sunday's game is now up in the air. If he's unable to suit up, Dee Delaney or Kaevon Merriweather are candidates to start at free safety alongside strong safety Ryan Neal.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Continues impressive streak
Rotowire
Winfield made eight tackles (four solo), one sack and one forced fumble during Sunday's 29-25 win over the Falcons.
Winfield has continued to build upon his momentum, with 42 total tackles across his last four appearances, in addition to two sacks, four passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble. The four-year veteran will look to continue building upon what's already a career season on the road against Green Bay in Week 15.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Another impact game Sunday
Rotowire
Winfield recorded eight tackles (four solo), including a sack, in the Buccaneers' 29-25 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Winfield tied with K.J. Britt for second on the team in tackles while recording a sack for the second straight game. The fourth-year pro now has at least eight stops in four straight games as well, leading to a career-high 97 tackles. Winfield is also boasting career-best figures in forced fumbles (four) and defensed passes (11) while tying his previous high-water marks in sacks (four), interceptions (two) and fumble recoveries (three).
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Career-high tackle total Sunday
Rotowire
Winfield collected 16 tackles (nine solo) in the Buccaneers' 27-14 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
The fourth-year safety was all over the field, compiling a career-high tackle total that was partly the byproduct of Lavonte David exiting the game in the second half with a groin strain. Winfield now has two double-digit tackle tallies on the campaign, and his prolific effort against the 49ers pushed him over the 70-tackle mark for fourth time in as many pro seasons. With David and Winfield's secondary mates Carlton Davis (hip) and Jamel Dean (foot/ankle) all suddenly iffy for a Week 12 road matchup against the Colts, Winfield could be due for another busy afternoon versus Indianapolis.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Productive in loss
Rotowire
Winfield logged 11 tackles (five solo) in Monday's 25-11 loss to the Eagles.
Winfield's tackle total was the most he has recorded through three games this season. He also saw the field for all 78 defensive snaps, which makes it back-to-back contests in which he's played every defensive snap. The safety will look to stay active in Week 4 when the Bucs head to New Orleans.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Full practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Winfield (leg) was a full participant at the Buccaneers' practice Wednesday.
Winfield missed Tampa Bay's final preseason game while dealing with an undisclosed leg injury, but he appears to be ready to go for Sunday's regular-season opener versus the Vikings. The safety is entering his fourth season with the team and recorded 64 solo tackles, including a career-high four sacks, in 2022.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Hopeful for Week 1 return
Rotowire
Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Sunday that the team is "hopeful" Winfield (undisclosed) will be ready for the Bucs' season opener against the Vikings on Sept. 10, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Winfield sat out Saturday's 26-20 preseason win over the Ravens and was seen watching from the sidelines with a sleeve on his leg. Most of the Bucs' starters played in the preseason finale outside of Winfield, linebacker Lavonte David and wide receiver Mike Evans. Nolan Turner, Richard LeCounte and Christian Izien should fill in for Winfield if the 2020 second-round pick is ruled out for Week 1.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Moving back to free safety
Rotowire
Winfield confirmed Tuesday that he'll be moving back to free safety for the 2023 campaign, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Head coach Todd Bowles hopes Winfield's transition back to the middle of the field will create an uptick in turnovers for Tampa Bay's defense, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports. The 2020 second-round pick operated as a free safety during his first two NFL campaigns, but he had a more versatile role in 2022 and played closer to the line of scrimmage. Across 42 career games, Winfield has totaled 246 tackles (174 solo), nine sacks, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Standout effort in Week 17
Rotowire
Winfield recorded six tackles (five solo), including one sack, during the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17.
Winfield logged one of two sacks of Sam Darnold on the afternoon, pushing his season total to a career-high four. The third-year pro has 13 combined stops over the last two games, affording him some solid momentum going into the regular-season finale versus the Falcons.