The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken a major upswing as a defensive unit over the last quarter of the season. However, what’s made their improvement even more impressive is that the turnaround has come without star safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Appearing in just nine games on the year, what is Winfield’s status for the playoffs, starting with the Wild Card Round matchup against the Washington Commanders?
What Is Antoine Winfield Jr.’s Injury?
Winfield signed a four-year, $84.1 million contract before the start of the season that made him the highest-paid defensive back in league history.
However, Year 1 of that contract hasn’t gone according to plan as Winfield has been forced to sit out for multiple stretches with injuries, playing in half of Tampa Bay’s games.
His most recent injury, a knee sprain, came in Week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders, which forced him to miss the rest of the regular season. He has since been on the injury report, hoping his knee heals in time for the playoffs.
When Will Winfield Play vs. the Commanders?
Both Winfield and the Buccaneers have had Sunday circled on their calendars since officially punching their ticket in Week 18. His knee injury initially caused some uncertainty about his availability for the Wild Card Round against the Washington Commanders.
However, Wednesday brought some optimism for the fanbase. Head coach Todd Bowles announced that Winfield was a full participant in practice, which puts him in line to make a return during Wild Card Weekend.
Winfield is expected to be active and start for Tampa Bay. It remains to be seen if he’ll be at 100% when he takes the field.
How Has Winfield’s Absence Impacted the Buccaneers?
Winfield was the best player on the Tampa Bay defense in 2023. Totaling 122 combined tackles, he also had six sacks, six forced fumbles, and three interceptions on the year. He was utterly dominant, earning All-Pro honors for his contributions.
As a result, Winfield earned his massive extension. While there is little doubt about his status as a blue-chip player, his production was less convincing in his injury-riddled 2024 campaign.
Through nine games, he had compiled just 60 total tackles and only two sacks on the year, without forcing a turnover. Consequentially, the Buccaneers’ defense struggled before a hot home stretch. They posted the 16th-ranked defense according to PFN’s Defense+ metric, which is impressive given Winfield’s absence.
When Tampa Bay visits Washington on Sunday, Winfield must play a key role in stopping electric rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is liable to break off an explosive run or launch a deep ball at any moment.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders Game Preview
- Location: Tampa, Raymond James Stadium
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC/Peacock
The Commanders finished the season with the sixth-lowest turnover rate in the league, which puts the offense in a position to succeed as often as any. This fuels their fourth-place ranking in points per drive.
Jayden Daniels is already one of the elite dual-threat quarterbacks after one season. His scrambling has led to a ridiculous 56.0 EPA, while no other QB has more than 35.7 EPA on scrambles this year.
The Buccaneers had to sweat it out, but they got everything they could have hoped for in Week 18. The Bucs clinched the NFC South and got Mike Evans his record-tying 11th straight 1,000-yard receiving season.
The offense certainly earned the right to play postseason football. Baker Mayfield had a career year, joining Tom Brady as the only two players in franchise history with 40 passing touchdowns in a season. That allowed Tampa to post a top-five ranking in both EPA per rush and pass success rate.
On the season as a whole, the Commanders’ offensive line has done a good job in pass protection, given just how long Daniels holds the ball (3.01 seconds; seventh). Whether it’s in the face of the blitz or not, Daniels is in the top 10 for both in terms of time to throw (or be sacked).
The Buccaneers’ offensive line has undeniably been one of the most improved units in the NFL this season. They have been the NFL’s second-best unit over the past four weeks, including three games graded as B- or above.
Tampa Bay’s pressure rate (24.4%) is the lowest in the league, and they have impressive numbers whether facing the blitz or not.
The Commanders were a below-average defense for most of the season, which their final Defense+ ranking reflects (17th overall, Grade: C). Ultimately, Washington’s performance was largely fairly consistent based on their level of competition.
For the season, the Commanders ranked 24th in defensive EPA per dropback, the third-lowest among the 14 playoff teams.
Quietly, the Buccaneers defense has improved since returning from their bye in Week 12. A soft schedule helped, but the Bucs rank third in EPA per play, first in third-down defense, and fourth in red-zone defense over that span.
A Wild Card matchup against the likely Offensive Rookie of the Year will be a bigger test. However, the Bucs did hand Daniels and Co. a convincing defeat in Week 1.