QB Winston returns, likely in backup role
TAMPA — Jameis Winston arrived at work for the first time in three weeks at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
It was a players’ day off, except for those needing treatment, so he didn’t get much of a reception until Wednesday.
“I think the most important thing is being back in the building,” Winston said.
“Yesterday was kind of an off day. I got here about 5:30. Didn’t see a bunch of smiling faces coming in. But today, everybody came back energetic and it felt like home. So I’m excited to be back.”
Of course, the big question for Winston is how he will accept backing up Ryan Fitzpatrick, who set an NFL record by passing for at least 400 yards in three consecutive games while the Bucs’ starter was serving a suspension for violating the league’s player-conduct policy.
Winston and Fitzpatrick each met Tuesday with coach Dirk Koetter to learn who will start Sunday at Chicago.
Koetter has asked them to keep that under wraps, but all indications are that it will be Fitzpatrick.
Winston would not comment on how he would feel going from being the Bucs’ franchise quarterback to No. 2.
“Well, you know, again, the most important thing is the success we’re having. I’m back,” Winston said. “I’m more excited about that right now. I’m here to assist the best way I possibly can. You know, my passion for this team, my love for this team, goes beyond whether I’m out there throwing the football for this team or not. Like I said, it’s my first day back. Let me enjoy that before I have start answering any more questions about that.”
But Winston said he was not surprised by the Bucs’ 2-1 start or the play of Fitzpatrick, who was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice after throwing four touchdowns against the Saints and the Eagles.
Winston also confirmed that in his final meeting before his suspension with Bucs general manager Jason Licht, he predicted Fitzpatrick would come out on fire.
“Of course. I practice with him every single day,” Winston said. “This guy hasn’t been playing in this league for 14 years for any reason. Plus, you add the weapons we have outside. When you add our intensity — the hardest workers in our building is the offensive line. And when they’re protecting the way they are, you can do nothing else but go out there and light it up. So I’m excited for Fitz and I’m excited as a whole. As a team, we’re playing very good and I’m happy to be back in the building and we’ve got to keep it up.
“We’ve got to go continue to go out there and win football games.”
Winston says he will be ready to play when called upon. During his three weeks away from the Bucs, he recruited about 25 former NFL players or free agents to practice with him daily.
He said he tried to duplicate the Bucs’ regularseason practice schedule: from meetings to the walk-through to team meals.
“I did my best impersonation of what it would be like as an in season schedule being here,” Winston said. “I got the guys from the Orlando area, Fort Lauderdale, Lakeland. Louis Murphy even came out there and threw a couple passes. I brought him out of retirement. And we just went to work. I didn’t want the guys in this building to be working hard and I wasn’t out there doing my thing. Other than spending a lot of quality with my family, because I didn’t have time to spend with my Buccaneer family, we did a lot of great things. After practice, I catered meals to my teammates just so I could have that team bonding that I missed here.”