Struggling Bucs, 49ers not giving up
TAMPA — With six games remaining in mostly disappointing seasons for Tampa Bay and San Francisco, both struggling squads are seeking answers that will help them beyond 2018.
The odds may be against either club salvaging the year with a playoff berth, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything meaningful the Buccaneers (3-7) and 49ers (2-8) can accomplish beginning Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay is turning back to Jameis Winston a month after benching the 2015 No. 1 overall draft pick with hopes the fourth-year passer will settle a debate about whether he's the right quarterback to lead the franchise moving forward.
Meanwhile, San Francisco returns from a bye week during which coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff did some self-scouting. The second-year coach had a straight-forward message for players when the team reassembled for practice.
“There's a lot on the line,” Shanahan said. “That's stuff that is obvious. Everyone knows that, but to state it to guys and just make people aware because you never assume that everyone knows what you're talking about. There's always guys you've got to let them know what the deal is in this league.
“You come back and people might think you don't have much to play for. You have everything to play for,” the coach added. “You have your career, you have your livelihood, you have the guys next to you and you have showing people that you want to be [with the 49ers]. When you start to think of that, you think of all the challenges ahead. I'm excited to do it.”
Winston is excited to have another opportunity as Tampa Bay's starter. He sat out the first three games of the season while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, then turned the ball over 11 times in 14 quarters after getting back on the field.
Ryan Fitzpatrick posted dazzling passing numbers during a 2-0 start, but the 14-year veteran has lost his past five starts and the Bucs have dropped seven of eight overall to jeopardize their chances of ending a 10-year playoff drought.
“I'm just grateful that I'm back on the field,” said Winston, who replaced Fitzpatrick during the second half of last week's 38-35 loss to the New York Giants and led four straight touchdown drives to get Tampa Bay back in the game.
Coach Dirk Koetter isn't saying if he considers the job Winston's for the remainder of the season.
“You've got to win. That's all that matters in this league,” Winston said. “You can look at stats but you've got to win to be up to the standard of excellence we're held to at this position.”
The 49ers lost quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending knee injury in the third week of the season. Nick Mullens, who'll make his third straight start Sunday, replaced an injured C.J. Beathard three weeks ago and has gone 1-1 while throwing for 512 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while beating the Raiders and losing to the Giants.
One person who's not surprised Mullens has responded to the opportunity is the quarterback's former college coach Todd Monken, who's now Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator.
Monken recruited Mullens to Southern Mississippi in 2013 and left to join the Bucs in 2016.
“He's everything you want in a player and as a quarterback,” Monken said.