The Bucs secondary won’t be whole again unless they reach the playoffs.
Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerback Jamel Dean are both out for Sunday’s game against the Saints, coach Todd Bowles said Friday.
Tight end Cade Otton, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury, will be a game-time decision but was downgraded to doubtful Friday.
The Bucs can clinch their fourth straight NFC South championship with a win over the Saints or a Falcons loss to the Panthers Sunday in Atlanta.
Winfield, who became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive back when he signed a four-year, $84.1 million contract in May, has been limited by injuries to only nine games this season. He suffered an ankle sprain in the season opener and then sprained a knee Dec. 8 against the Raiders.
The Bucs’ biggest playmaker on defense a year ago, Winfield has had an unproductive season, with 60 tackles, two sacks, no interceptions and one fumble returned for a touchdown.
He was limited in practice this week but did not have a setback. Still, “he‘s not ready yet,” Bowles said.
Dean injured his knee in last Sunday’s 48-14 win over the Panthers. The Bucs will start Josh Hayes against the Saints.
Jordan Whitehead and Miike Edwards are both available at safety.
With Otton out against the Panthers, rookie tight end Devin Culp and second-year pro Payne Durham combined to make five receptions for 88 yards, including Durham’s first NFL touchdown.
