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Todd Bowles On Antoine Winfield: “He Runs Everything”

May 26th, 2025

The Bucs defense is loaded with mysteries and X-factors.

Joe does not know where to start.

Which version of Haason Reddick shows up? Will Jamel Dean keep his rookie competition on the bench? Can Calijah Kancey play a full season? Will Chris Braswell “shock” the NFL as Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht predicted?

Is SirVocea Dennis anything more than a brittle tease? Will Todd Bowles make his annual change at nickel cornerback?

Does Lavonte David have another Hall of Fame season in his 35-year-old legs? Will YaYa Diaby become a legit sack artist?

Joe could go on but will stop at star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr.

Winfield’s fifth Bucs season was marred by multiple injuries and when he was on the field last season, he didn’t look anything like the All-Pro he was a year prior.

Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio, head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles noted that Winfield’s contribution (or lost contribution) goes beyond game days.

“He runs everything,” Bowles said. “I’ve never seen anybody punch the ball out like he can punch the ball out. And him and Lavonte [David] are probably two of the hardest practice players I’ve ever seen practice since I’ve been coaching.”

Joe heard Bowles’ comments about practice and wondered how missing Winfield for so long last season possibly impacted preparation and focus during the practice week.

Regardless, now the Bucs have Winfield back at 100 percent health and the rookie cornerbacks, along with whomever plays safety alongside Winfield, should benefit greatly during the lead-up to the season.

And if Winfield manages to restore his 2023 form and health, then the Bucs should be a far more dangerous postseason threat than they were last season.