TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. sustained a right knee injury against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and did not return to the 28-13 victory.
Winfield Jr. was injured early in the second quarter, but it’s unclear which play it happened on. He appeared to get knocked in the knee by the pile of players on running back Sincere McCormick’s 2-yard rush to the Tampa Bay 4.
Winfield was lifting his right knee and moving gingerly after McCormick’s run, but he remained on the field for two additional plays.
A source told ESPN that Winfield will undergo an MRI on Monday.
The Bucs were already without starting safety Jordan Whitehead, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle, and Mike Edwards, who has a hamstring injury. Also missing in action Sunday was starting outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
Star rookie running back Bucky Irving also left the game at the beginning of the second quarter with a back injury and did not return.
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles did not have updates on the status of Winfield or Irving after the game. Both players were seen in the locker room walking without limitations.
Winfield’s replacement, Kaevon Merriweather, tied for a team-leading seven combined tackles and a sack. Without Irving, Rachaad White rushed for 90 yards on 17 attempts with a touchdown, plus two catches for 19 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. Sean Tucker rushed for 47 yards on three rushing attempts.
With their third straight win, the Bucs improved to 7-6 and moved past the Atlanta Falcons into first place in the NFC South.