For the first time in three weeks, Jameis Winston threw a pass in a Wednesday practice. None of them were aimed at Adam Humphries.
Winston, the Buccaneers' third-year quarterback, has not missed a start since entering the NFL – a streak of 39 straight – but he has been managed carefully the past two weeks due to a right shoulder injury suffered in Arizona on October 15. The Bucs limited him to handoffs and mental reps during the first two practices in Weeks Seven and Eight, then let him throw all the first-team passes on each Friday.
That approach seemed to have no ill effect before the game in Buffalo, in which he threw accurately and racked up 384 yards and three touchdowns. Whether or not the injury or the practice regimen factored into a much less successful performance against Carolina seven days later is an open debate. Hopefully, it will soon be a moot point. Having Winston throw on Wednesday is clearly a step forward in his recovery.
A look at the Saints' projected starters, according to the team's website.
QB Drew Brees
RB Mark Ingram
WR Michael Thomas
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
TE Coby Fleener
FB Zach Line
C Max Unger
G Andrus Peat
OT Ryan Ramczyk
G Larry Warford
OT Terron Armstead
LB A.J. Klein
DE Alex Okafor
DE Cameron Jordan
DT Tyeler Davison
DT Sheldon Rankins
LB Craig Robertson
LB Manti Te'o
CB Ken Crawley
S Kenny Vaccaro
S Marcus Williams
CB Marshon Lattimore
P Thomas Morstead
K Will Lutz
KR Alvin Kamara
LS Zach Wood
Winston is still listed as "limited" on the Buccaneers' injury report, so there's no specific indication of how many passes he threw during the portion of Wednesday's practice that was not open to the media. But Head Coach Dirk Koetter succinctly said that Winston looked "fine," agreeing that this week's Wednesday work was a sign of progress.
"Well, of course," said Koetter on that latter point. "As we've said all along, you'd always rather have your starting quarterback out there taking every rep, so yes."
Humphries did not catch any of Winston's passes because he was sitting out for the first time this year due to a rib injury sustained on Sunday against Carolina. The third-year receiver has only missed one game due to injury in his NFL career, last year in Week 13 due to a concussion. That game, coincidently, was also against the Saints, though it was played in Tampa.
If Humphries is out against New Orleans again this Sunday, it would mean an uptick in playing time for rookie Chris Godwin. Godwin had an impressive training camp but has simply been blocked from extensive playing time because the Bucs are pleased with their first options at X, Z and in the slot. Godwin has essentially cribbed little bits of playing time from each position, resulting in seven catches for 74 yards.
Pictures from the Buccaneers' practice on Wednesday.
QB Jameis Winston
Bucs Practice
CB Javien Elliott
S Chris Conte
TE Cameron Brate
TE Luke Stocker
TE Antony Auclair
TE O.J. Howard
Bucs Practice
QB Jameis Winston
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
WR Mike Evans
GM Jason Licht and HC Dirk Koetter
WR DeSean Jackson
WR Freddie Martino
WR Bobo Wilson
QB Jameis Winston and HC Dirk Koetter
C Ali Marpet
QB Jameis Winston
Bucs Practice
Bucs Practice
Bucs Practice
QB Jameis Winston
QB Jameis Winston
C Evan Smith
HC Dirk Koetter and QB Jameis Winston
WR Mike Evans
Bucs Practice
WR DeSean Jackson
WR DeSean Jackson and WR Mike Evans
OT Donovan Smith
DT Clinton McDonald
DT Clinton McDonald
TE Alan Cross and CB Vernon Hargreaves
TE O.J. Howard
WR Bobo Wilson
Bucs Practice
Bucs Practice
DE Robert Ayers
"[He's] just real steady – real solid across the board," said Koetter of Godwin. "[He's] a major contributor on special teams and a guy that, because of our depth at wide receiver, he is not getting that many targets. He is down in the pecking order a little bit, but he is doing his best and he's going to be a real good player in this league."
The rest of the Buccaneers' seven-man injury report for Week Nine is comprised of defensive players: defensive tackle Chris Baker (ankle), linebacker Kendell Beckwith (knee), cornerback Brent Grimes (shoulder), cornerback Robert McClain (concussion) and safety Josh Robinson (concussion). McClain and Robinson were both full participants in Wednesday's practice, which could mean they are close to returning from absences of one and three games, respectively. Grimes, however, did not practice on Wednesday.
