NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL Network this weekend that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are slated to bring back quarterback Jameis Winston in 2020.
The uncertainty of Winston’s future in Tampa Bay has been the story of the season for this team, which struggled to a 3-7 start but now sit at 7-8 with one game left to play. Winston has had a memorable season for the Bucs, both good and bad. He’s less than 100 yards away from becoming the eighth quarterback in league history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. But, he also has a league-leading 28 interceptions on the year, including four picks in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Texans.
Winston could become the first quarterback since Vinny Testaverde in 1988 (also with the Bucs) to throw at least 30 interceptions in a season. Testaverde finished that year with a whopping 35.
Winston’s inability to protect the football has been one of the main reasons why the Bucs constantly play from behind. So, while the team is committed to bringing him back, he’s going to have to clean up his act and fast.
Winston now has more career interceptions than Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who came into the league 10 years before Winston. And, just to further put Winston’s interception total this season into perspective, here’s a look at how long it’s been since New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has thrown 28 picks.
That’s right. Dating all the way back to the 2016 season, Brady has thrown a total of 28 interceptions in 59 games. Winston, meanwhile has thrown 28 interceptions in just 15 games this season.
The Bucs may feel confident about bringing Winston back for one more year. But, if interceptions continue to pile up and the team once again fails to make a postseason run, it’ll likely be Winston’s last.
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