While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have won on Sunday, they may have suffered a far greater loss than if they had not managed to beat the Commanders.
Injuries have plagued the Bucs so far this season, with four players already on IR and another likely to follow after Week 1. Cornerback Bryce Hall was carted off the field after suffering a gruesome leg injury, with the team later revealing he had dislocated his ankle and fractured his fibula.
Tampa Bay's secondary depth was already thin, which is why Antoine Winfield Jr. being spotted in a walking boot after the game has sent a cold chill up the spine of Bucs fans everywhere.
Antoine Winfield Jr. might have suffered a foot injury in Buccaneers win over Commanders
After the game Winfield was seen in a walking boot, which is less than ideal for a number of reasons and is the worst way to chase a win like the one Tampa Bay got on Sunday. It didn't seem like he had suffered an injury during the game, and there wasn't a ton of concern about him after, but it's certainly something work keeping an eye on.
#Bucs All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr was seen sporting a walking boot on his right foot after the game tonight. We speak to head coach Todd Bowles tomorrow and will try to get an update.
— JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL) September 9, 2024
Tampa Bay's already thin secondary depth was tested right out of the gate against the Commanders. Josh Hayes and Zyon McCollum both dealt with injuries and the loss of Hall makes things even harder.
Tyrek Funderburk and Kaevon Merriweather were both inactive, and they could end up being guys who step up to fill in the gaps. There's also a handful of free agents still available that the Bucs could bring in for workouts to see if they can add anything, but Winfield is irreplaceable and losing him for any period of time is a nightmare scenario.
Hopefully this is nothing more than some wear-and-tear and the team is being extra cautious. Given the incredibly thin depth it would make sense for all stops to be brought out to ensure Winfield is healthy all season, but fans will naturally be a little anxious until we hear some positive news.
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