Are Returning Bucs’ DBs Still Good To Go?

Sunday’s Week 15 game in which the Bucs lost 34-23 to the Bengals saw the return of cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, safety and nickel corner Antoine Winfield Jr. and safety Mike Edwards in the secondary.

Bucs S Mike Edwards – Photo by: USA Today

While the cornerback Murphy-Bunting played every single snap in replacement of Jamel Dean, we saw far less of the safeties in the game. Winfield, who had been dealing with a high ankle sprain, re-aggravated the same injury in the game. He was able to finish it, but only played 18 snaps.

Edwards was on a pitch count as well as he came back from a hamstring injury. He was in for 32 out of a possible 66 snaps, playing the same amount as fellow Bucs safety Keanu Neal.

Are Winfield And Edwards Healthy Enough For Next Bucs Game?

On Monday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles gave an update on how the safeties were doing in their first game back in action after missing the previous two games, and if they would be available for the Christmas game against the Cardinals this week.

“Winfield is day to day with his ankle,” Bowles said. “He finished the game, obviously. Mike played half the game as he gets in better shape. Hopefully he gets healthier this week and can play a lot more.”

Winfield made three tackles and a pass breakup in the game while Edwards five and a quarterback hit. There’s no question that Winfield is Tampa Bay’s best player. Edwards also has the best hands out of any of the players in the secondary. If the Bucs want to make any noise down the stretch, they’ll need both of these players available.

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