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Antoine Winfield Jr. to Miss Weeks With Rib Fracture

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 4:32 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Winfield Out vs Cowboys

Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss two to four weeks after suffering a rib fracture.
Coach Todd Bowles confirmed the fracture, noting Winfield left the Packers game in pain.
Winfield recorded six tackles and a forced fumble against Green Bay, totaling 24 tackles in four games.
The Buccaneers will face the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night without Winfield, a key secondary player.

Summary

Bucs Chase First Win

Winfield signed a four-year, $84.1 million extension after his 2023 All-Pro season.
The Buccaneers are 0-4 and aim for their first 2025 win versus Dallas.
Coach Todd Bowles set a 1:45 p.m. media update to discuss Winfield and Dennis’ conditions.
Buccaneers may promote practice-squad DBs JJ Roberts or Silas Walters after Sean Murphy-Bunting’s departure.
Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, signed before the Packers game, becomes a primary backup with Tykee Smith.

History

Historical Context

Kam Chancellor’s 2015 absence disrupted Seattle’s Legion of Boom, a secondary that had led the NFL in points allowed for four straight seasons (2012-2015). The impact of losing a top safety resurfaced in 2024 when Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. missed weeks with a rib fracture as the Buccaneers fell to an 0-4 start.

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Winfield Out vs Cowboys

Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss two to four weeks after suffering a rib fracture.
Coach Todd Bowles confirmed the fracture, noting Winfield left the Packers game in pain.
Winfield recorded six tackles and a forced fumble against Green Bay, totaling 24 tackles in four games.
The Buccaneers will face the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night without Winfield, a key secondary player.

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