Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jameis Winston Out for at Least Two Weeks Due to Shoulder Injury
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have finally decided to do something they should have done weeks ago.
The team has announced that they will shut down starting quarterback Jameis Winston for at least two weeks to let his right shoulder heal after he got hurt again in the first half of their 30–10 loss to the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday.
"They feel like he needs to rest for a couple of weeks and that's what is going to happen," Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said, via the team's official website. "They're saying this is not structural, but they want to shut him down," he added.
Winston was originally diagnosed with an acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprain in his right shoulder after their week six loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but he continued to play on before he got hurt again after last Sunday when he was sacked by Cameron Jordan and Alex Okafor just before halftime.
"Jameis didn't play his best, but on that third-to-last play in the half when he got hit on his left side and the weight of the defensive end and Jameis' weight fell on his right shoulder – that's when he reaggravated it," Koetter stated. "That was a hit that most quarterbacks in the NFL are going to come up [hurt] with. When you see those, those are not good," he continued.
Koetter has also noted that the Buccaneers are not planning to place Winston on the injured reserve.
The Pro Bowl quarterback hasn't been performing well at all this season. Winston has thrown 10 touchdowns in eight games, completing 87.3 of his passes for 1,920 yards, but he also has six interceptions.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to get the start at quarterback when they take on the New York Jets this Sunday, while Ryan Griffin will act as his backup.