Antoine Winfield And Game Readiness
January 11th, 2025
Rondé Barber weighs in.
Interesting wording from Bucs icon and Hall of Fame cornerback Rondé Barber.
So Bucs star safety (former star?) Antoine Winfield Jr. messed up his knee and missed the past four games.
One month ago today, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said it was a big loss and maybe Winfield could return in the regular season.
Well, Winfield didn’t make it back, even for the Bucs’ must-win game last Sunday. But was he healthy enough to play?
Joe woudn’t have questioned anything until hearing Barber today, an ultimate Bucs insider who attends practice.
“Personally, I know what Winfield did. He had a mild sprain of his MCL,” Barber said on WFLA.com. “I thought actually that he was going to be able to play sooner, but apparently he just couldn’t get right with it. Right? It just didn’t feel right and he wanted to take his time.”
The “he wanted to take his time” phrasing from Barber surprised Joe, especially considering Barber played 15 consecutive seasons as a defensive back without missing a game. Most players don’t want to take their time if they can push through an injury.
An MCL sprain is often the kind of injury that costs a player two weeks.
Joe is not wagging a finger at Winfield, but it’s so rare to hear talk of a player wanting “to take his time” with an injury, Joe couldn’t ignore it.
Barber went on to say Winfield is the X-factor and biggest game wrecker in the Bucs defense, if he’s close to 100 percent. Some of the Bucs’ defensive struggles have been tied to Winfield missing eight games this season, Barber added.
Joe hopes Winfield is at 90 percent or better. He’s a major upgrade from Ryan Neal, Kayvon Merriweather and Mike Edwards.
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January 11th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
Best Bucs defender missed that time and yet even though he is back we worry.
Really hoping the bad play was due to injury.
Everything Ive witnessed in his 4 prior years, tells me he is a huge addition this game.
I think the defense will look way better than people expect.
January 11th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Considering it was his 2nd injury this season (and he most likely came back from the 1st one too early without being completely healed), I can understand wanting to take an extra week to get right. Bucs had no business losing last week, even without him.
Obviously a gamble. Let’s just hope he looks sharp tomorrow night and is at least 90% as you said.
January 11th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Winfield hasn’t looked like himself all year.
I’m guessing he hasn’t really been ‘healthy’ since week 1.
Before the season started I thought Safety would be one of our strongest positions – as we seemed loaded with talent – Winfield, Whitehead, rookie Smith, Izien, Merriweather….. That’s a hell of a solid group on paper.
The back ups have played decently considering – but our starters, Winfield and in particular Whitehead (when they were even available) have played like crap pretty much all season.
Hopefully Antoine can get back to his sure tackling, play making self starting tomorrow – and be the difference maker he is paid to be for this playoff run.
January 11th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Sounds like he made the right choice and should be close to 100% by taking extra time. You guys don’t need me to make the playoffs and I wanna be right for the playoffs to help us advance!
Kancey and Winfield > Lattimore obviously. Go Bucs!
January 11th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
If he plays free and fast, we should be in good shape. If he’s constantly not sure what he should do because he’s worried about covering for the other dudes who are confused about their assignments, then more of the same ol’ same ol.’ That soft shell cover who? No one defense.
January 11th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
There is ONE other dude coming back who MIGHT make a difference.
IF Shaq has any gas in the tank and the time off has done him good who knows?
Stranger things have happened.
January 11th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
This year, Winfield has never looked like last year’s version. I don’t know why – especially early in the season. I don’t expect him to play as well as last year, but maybe he can make a play or two.
January 11th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
I would hate to think that he signed a huge contract is locked into a deal ain’t going anywhere so what’s the rush with a injury. I don’t know i guess I’m a skeptic cause I love Winfield but I’ve seen it before and not necessarily on this team but guys sign massive deals and then have a off year some due to injury and some just being complacent. Winfield is awesome but to hear that he wanted to take his time to me is a little concerning. LFG BUCS!!
January 11th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
I wonder hoe many players on the team/league want to “take their time” with injury but are on the field contributing? 3weeks with an MCL sprain IS :taking your time,” 4 weeks is decadent, not all pro
January 11th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Seems like Joe is reaching here to create a bit of doubt/controversy. Nobody, including Barber, knows exactly what the extent of Winfield’s injury was.
Lets look at the major plus side which is that he is going to play and hopefully, be more healthy than he has been for the majority of the season due to the extra week (or so) off.
January 11th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
I hope he shows us something tomorrow night, otherwise he was just playing for a contract last year.
January 11th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
^^yep
January 11th, 2025 at 8:35 pm
He may have wanted to come back but Bowles may have said rest up for the playoffs. Bowles may have been confident they could beat the struggling Panthers and Saints without him so that he could be 100% for the playoffs. Hope that is what the case was. We need Winfield to play like Winfield of last year and Super Bowl year if we want to win tomorrow and beyond. Go Bucs!
January 11th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Barber had 15 straight seasons without missing a single game. Wow! That boggles the mind that anyone could do that in the NFL. What a hell of a football player we had in Rhonde Barber.