Bucs stay quiet if Winston will start
Jameis Winston is back on the job, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still aren’t saying if it’s as the team’s starting quarterback.
Winston’s three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy ended yesterday, the first day the fourth-year pro was permitted to return to the team.
It was a day off for players following Monday night’s 30-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, however, coach Dirk Koetter said the first overall pick in the 2015 draft showed up ready to begin preparation for the Chicago Bears.
What Koetter declined to say was whether Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has the Bucs off to a 2-1 start while throwing for more than 400 yards in a league-record three consecutive games will start.
“I did talk to both Jameis and Fitz,” Koetter said. “We know what we’re going to do. Both guys know what we’re going to do. I hope everybody can appreciate it doesn’t do us any good to tell our opponents what we’re going to do. That’ll work itself out.”
Winston started 45-of-48 games over the past three seasons with an 18-27 record while throwing for 11,636 yards, 69 touchdowns and 44 interceptions. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner has yet to lead Tampa Bay to the playoffs.
Fitzpatrick, a 35-year-old journeyman who played for seven teams in 14 seasons, has thrown for 1,230 yards and 11 touchdowns in Winston’s absence.
Titans sign QB help
The Tennessee Titans signed veteran quarterback Austin Davis with Marcus Mariota dealing with an injured elbow and backup Blaine Gabbert in concussion protocol.
Davis joins his sixth NFL team after starting his career with the St. Louis Rams in 2012 as a rookie free agent out of Southern Mississippi. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound Davis also has been with Miami, Cleveland, Denver and Seattle, and has started 10 games. He appeared in three games last season with Seattle without throwing a pass . . . .
The Carolina Panthers addressed their injurydepleted offensive line by acquiring veteran Marshall Newhouse in a trade with Buffalo. The Bills received a conditional draft pick from Carolina then filled Newhouse’s spot by signing offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to a one-year contract. Sirles was cut by the Panthers three weeks ago.
Vikes DE stays away
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen remains away from the team indefinitely because of mental-health trouble.
Coach Mike Zimmer said Griffen will not travel with the Vikings for their game tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Rams. He was held out Sunday with a knee injury, but the threetime Pro Bowler was in no condition to play after a scary series of incidents on Saturday night.
According to police in Minnetrista, Griffen was acting erratically and making comments about people trying to kill him. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation.