Buccaneers suffer another blow thanks to key injury that will sideline Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr. for a few weeks
The Buccaneers have lost another key player in Antoine Winfield Jr. after he suffered a rib injury against the Packers in Week 4. It’s a big blow to the secondary that can certainly have a major effect on Thursday’s game in Dallas.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had pretty solid injury luck over the first four games of the season, but lost another key piece to the lineup after Antoine Winfield Jr. suffered a rib injury against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
The Buccaneers secondary has been playing well as a whole, but could take a step back as Antoine Winfield Jr.’s injury will keep him out for a few weeks, according to Todd Bowles.
“We won’t have [Antoine] Winfield [Jr.] Thursday (because) he’s got a slight rib fracture,” Bowles told reporters on Monday. “[He] should be out two to four weeks, probably, from what I’m hearing.”
The timing couldn’t be worse, as the Buccaneers have to take on what is arguably the NFL’s best receiver duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Both wideouts have combined for 55 receptions, 723 yards and four touchdowns over the course of the young season.
On top of that, Lamb’s 37 receptions and 498 receiving yards lead the NFL, as well as his 28 first downs. His four receiving touchdowns are tied for third-most and sit behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown (5) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6).
Bowles said Ifeatu “Iffy” Melifonwu will replace Winfield Jr. on the field. The veteran safety has appeared in 57 games that include 22 starts since he came into the league back in 2021. He’s recorded three interceptions, 14 pass break-ups, 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, and 124 total tackles over the course of his career.
Buccaneers get good injury news in the form of Rueben Bain Jr.’s status
Obviously, Antoine Winfield Jr.’s injury is a disappointing development, but the Bucs did mark Rueben Bain Jr. as a full participant in Monday’s walkthrough.
Remember, teams mark players as they would if it were a regular practice, which puts Bain Jr. on track to play on Thursday night.
That would be a big boon for the Buccaneers’ pass rush, even if Bain Jr. has basically been a ghost so far in 2026. He’s missed the last two weeks and the hope is the time off helps him get back to the form we saw during training camp and preseason. There’s a chance the mental reps can help slow the game down for him, as well.
Other injury updates included a limited session for linebacker Josiah Trotter, who is dealing with a knee injury. Linebacker SirVocea Dennis was a non-participant due to a foot injury that Bowles is awaiting test results on. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison was also a non-participant as he deals with a quad injury and tight end Ko Kieft “returned to practice”, albeit in limited fashion, as he continues to deal with an elbow injury that kept him out of last week’s game.
On the Cowboys’ side of things, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Cobie Durant didn’t practice, which are situations to monitor this week. The practice window opened up for starting tackle Tyler Smith, as well, and that would be a major addition for the offensive line if he returns Thursday.
