NFL insider offers Antoine Winfield Jr injury update during Bucs preseason.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is dealing with a new injury ahead of preseason Week 2.
Slipped into the middle of a relatively ho-hum training camp Q&A with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was a new Antoine Winfield Jr injury update ahead of preseason Week 2.
“[Winfield has] got a lower leg injury,” Bowles told reporters on August 13. Adding: “He’s a little sore.”
While this unexpected injury didn’t seem overly concerning, based on Bowles’ update, Winfield is a player who’s had trouble staying on the field in the past. And it wouldn’t be the first time the Buccaneers’ head coach downplayed an injury this summer. Think Tristan Wirfs.
Needless to say, the response raised some alarms around the Tampa Bay community.
“Ruh roh,” Tampa Bay Times insider Rick Stroud commented. While Bucs fans on social media jumped to conclusions, too.
Fortunately, a much more encouraging injury update emerged on Winfield on Wednesday afternoon.
“Sounds like it’s all eyes on Week 1 for Antoine Winfield,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport weighed in on X. “Doesn’t sound like anything that’ll keep him off the field for the opener.”
Although Rapoport’s update was by no means definitive, it is comforting, to some extent. The Bucs don’t need Winfield for the remainder of the preseason, but things could get troublesome if he’s sidelined in early September.