Tampa Bay Bucs rookie, former Minnesota star out for NFC Championship Game
Antoine Winfield Jr. will have to find a way to help his team from the sideline.
Just before kickoff of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers an the Green Bay Packers, it was revealed that Winfield would be out for the contest. As a rookie, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher has made a significant impact for the Bucs.
Winfield will miss the game with an ankle injury. James Palmer and Ian Rapoport reported of NFL Network reported the news.
There was early optimism, but the lengthy on field workout showed Antoine Winfield (ankle) won’t be able to go today sources tell @RapSheet and me. He’s out. https://t.co/voGwa1cKPP
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 24, 2021
That’s a huge loss for Tampa, as Winfield has started in all 18 games for the Bucs this year — 16 regular season and 2 postseason contests. He’s credited with 94 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles and an interception in his first season in the NFL.
Tampa Bay reached the NFC Championship Game by getting wins over the Washington Football Team in the Wild Card Round and the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round.
Winfield was a second-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.