Antoine Winfield Jr News - Sportsnaut

Antoine Winfield Jr. ‘sure’ Bucs are reaching out to Tom Brady

Sportsnaut — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:08:05 +0000

Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. said the team may still attempt to lure star quarterback Tom Brady out of retirement.

“I’m sure we’re still reaching out to him trying to see if he’s trying to come back to the team,” the 24-year-old Winfield said during an appearance on the Richard Sherman Podcast. “Hey, it could happen. Anything’s possible.”

Brady, 45, initially announced his retirement from the NFL in February 2022 only to change his mind several weeks later. The seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP then called it a career this past February after 23 NFL seasons.

“When he first said he retired, I really thought that he was done,” Winfield said. “He surprised me when he came back.”

Brady now has an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. His 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox Sports begins in 2024.

Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are expected to battle for the starting quarterback job in Tampa this season.

–Field Level Media

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Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) likely out for ‘TNF’

Sportsnaut — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:09:52 +0000

Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is likely out for Thursday night’s game with a concussion and wide receiver Russell Gage is having an MRI on Monday on his injured hamstring.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Winfield is in the protocol with not enough time to get cleared on a short week.

The Bucs (3-4) host the Baltimore Ravens (4-3) to kick off Week 8 on “Thursday Night Football.” The Bucs have lost two straight and four of five.

Winfield was injured in Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers and Gage has been battling hamstring issues all season.

Gage caught four passes for 39 yards on five targets against Carolina. Winfield had two tackles, including one for a loss. Winfield had played every snap this season before leaving Sunday’s game after 28 plays on defense.

Winfield, coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2021, has 39 tackles, three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in seven starts this season. The 24-year-old has eight sacks and four INTs in 36 games (all starts) since the Bucs selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft.

Gage, 26, is in his first season with the Bucs and has 29 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown in seven games (four starts). He has 10 career TD receptions.

–Field Level Media

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Bucs WR Mike Evans, S Antoine Winfield Jr. out vs. Panthers

Sportsnaut — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 18:54:54 +0000

Dec 12, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss Sunday’s game against the host Carolina Panthers, coach Bruce Arians announced Friday.

Evans has missed practice all week after sustaining a hamstring injury in last Sunday’s 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs also lost fellow wideout Chris Godwin (torn ACL) and running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) to injuries in that game.

Evans, 28, leads the Buccaneers with 11 receiving touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has 64 catches for 899 yards in 14 games.

A returning Antonio Brown as well as Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson are expected to serve as the top wideouts for the Buccaneers (10-4), who can clinch the NFC South title with a win over the Panthers (5-9) on Sunday.

Brown completed a three-game suspension after an NFL investigation determined he produced a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.

Arians said he wasn’t too worried about quarterback Tom Brady adjusting to a changing set of receivers.

“He looked fine. Tom is Tom. He’s going to find the guys and get the right guys,” Arians said. “The guys worked hard this week, so he has a lot of confidence in all of them.”

Winfield, 23, will miss his second straight game with a foot injury. He has 72 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack in 11 games this season.

–Field Level Media

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Buccaneers’ Antoine Winfield Jr., Antonio Brown won’t practice this week

Sportsnaut — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:43:05 +0000

Dec 20, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass against Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) in the first half of a NFL game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Standout safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and wideout Antonio Brown won’t practice this week and coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday it’s “too early” to know if they’ll be available for Super Bowl LV.

Both missed the NFC Championship, Brown with a knee injury and Winfield with an ankle ailment. Brown suffered his injury in the divisional game against the New Orleans Saints and Winfield was hurt during practice ahead of the NFC title game.

“I think it’s too early,” Arians said, when asked on a radio show if Brown and Winfield would be ready by Feb. 7. “Neither one of those guys will probably practice this week and we’ll see how it rolls out next Tuesday for both of them.”

Further, NFL Network reports Bucs safety Jordan Whitehead, who was knocked out of the NFC title game against the Green Bay Packers, has not been ruled out of the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Whitehead injured his shoulder on a tackle and did not return but is going to try to play, per the report.

Winfield started all 16 games as a rookie and finished with 94 tackles, three sacks and interception and six passes defensed.

Brown had 45 catches for 483 yards and four touchdowns.

In the interview with 95.3 WDAE, Arians also said he’s coming back next season, responding with “hell no” when asked if he’d consider retiring if he won his first Super Bowl.

“I’m going for two. There’s no doubt. If the Glazers have me back, I’ll be back,” Arians said.

–Field Level Media

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Minnesota’s All-American DB Antoine Winfield Jr declares for 2020 NFL Draft

Matt Johnson — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:56:17 +0000

He followed in his father’s footsteps as a defensive back, now Minnesota Golden Gophers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will follow his path to the NFL after declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Winfield Jr., the son of legendary Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield, announced on Instagram that he will forego another season with the Golden Gophers and is declaring for the upcoming NFL Draft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ETyqZlbbG/

A finalist for the Bronco Nagurski as a redshirt sophomore, Winfield Jr. earned first-team All-American honors this season after hauling in seven interceptions with three sacks and two forced fumbles.

He came up huge in Minnesota’s upset win over Penn State during the regular season, recording two first-half interceptions and showing off his playmaking ability.

Winfield Jr. is considered to be one of the best safety prospects in the 2020 draft class and could hear his name called early. While he’s not currently projected as a first-round pick in the latest mock draft, a strong showing throughout the pre-draft process can change that.

He’ll have big shoes to fill in the NFL, given his father was a three-time Pro Bowl corner, Winfield Jr. has shown he has the talent to continue his family’s legacy at the highest level.

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