Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ All-Pro Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Suffers Knee Injury in Win Over Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. suffered a right knee injury during Sunday’s 28-13 victory over the Las Vegas
Raiders and did not return to the game. The injury occurred early in the second quarter, though the exact play remains unclear. Winfield
appeared to be struck on the knee by a pile of players following a 2-yard rush by Raiders running back Sincere McCormick to the Tampa
Bay 4-yard line. Following the play, Winfield was seen favoring his right knee but stayed on the field for two more plays before being pulled from
the game. Sources told ESPN that Winfield is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the extent of the injury.
The Buccaneers were already missing starting safety Jordan Whitehead, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle, and safety
Mike Edwards, sidelined by a hamstring injury. Additionally, starting outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka did not play in the game.
Star rookie running back Bucky Irving also exited early in the second quarter due to a back injury and did not return. Buccaneers head coach
Todd Bowles provided no updates on the status of either Winfield or Irving following the game, though both players were seen walking without
limitations in the locker room. In Winfield’s absence, backup safety Kaevon Merriweather stepped up, tying for a team-high seven
combined tackles and recording a sack. Despite Irving’s departure, running back Rachaad White excelled, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown
on 17 carries, while also adding two receptions for 19 yards and a receiving touchdown. Sean Tucker contributed 47 yards on three carries.
With the win, the Buccaneers improved to 7-6 and surged past the Atlanta Falcons into first place in the NFC South.