Jameis Winston out ‘several weeks’ while throwing shoulder heals

Dirk Koetter announced Monday the Buccaneers will sit quarterback Jameis Winston while his throwing shoulder heals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Winston started in Week 9, but had to be pulled from Sunday’s loss to the Saints because of the injury.

Winston will miss at least two weeks.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has a storied history of filling in for injured starters. He’ll get that chance again now in Tampa Bay. Ryan Griffin will be the backup, per CBS Tampa’s Ryan Bass. Griffin has been with the Buccaneers since the 2013 season, but he has yet to get any snaps in regular season action.

Winston suffered the injury, a sprained AC joint, in Week 6 against the Cardinals. He then started in Week 7 against the Bills and Week 8 against the Panthers. It’s sometimes possible to play through the injury, but it’s possible the team rushed him back before he was ready. He completed seven of 13 passes for 67 yards and no scores against the Saints before leaving Sunday’s game.

Fitzpatrick has been OK in Winston’s place. He threw for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and two picks after taking over against the Cardinals. He entered the game for Winston on Sunday, and threw for 68 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers’ 30-10 loss to the Saints.

After Winston left the game, he instigated a fight with Saints players from the sideline. Koetter also said Monday he was “very disappointed” in his quarterback’s actions.

The Buccaneers are 2-6 and dead last in the NFC South. Winston’s injury won’t help them make up ground, but having him on the field hasn’t really made a difference, either. It makes sense for the team to let Winston get back to full strength right now.