TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has what coach Todd Bowles called a “slight rib fracture” and will miss 2-4 weeks.
“We don’t have Winfield Thursday. He’s got a slight rib fracture,” Bowles said. “He should be out 2-4 weeks probably from what I’m hearing.”
Ifeatu Melifonwu, who was just signed from the practice squad after three straight weeks of call-ups, will start in his place Thursday night at the Dallas Cowboys.
Winfield suffered the injury in the Bucs’ 17-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday -- a game that dropped them to 0-4 on the season. With 4:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, Winfield came off the edge on a blitz and engaged with Packers right tackle Anthony Belton. Then he leapt up as quarterback Jordan Love fired off a 12-yard pass to running back MarShawn Lloyd in an attempt to deflect the ball, before turning and falling to his knees. Belton was able to avoid him as the two turned their attention in the direction of the pass.
It’s unclear exactly when the injury occurred for Winfield, who walked off the field gingerly with the training staff, and had to stop walking momentarily as he made his way to the sideline. When he resumed walking, it was at an even slower pace. Then Winfield appeared to be in considerable pain leaving the locker room after the game. He could barely walk and was moving extremely slowly as he made his way through the hallway at Raymond James Stadium.
Bowles had said earlier last week that the team needed to get Winfield more involved. He finished the game with six tackles -- tied for second-most on the team. He also had two fumble recoveries reversed by the officiating crew into incomplete passes.
Bowles also said that the team is awaiting further imaging on inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who suffered a foot injury in the game.
