Fitzmagic is here to stay, at least for one week longer.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 2-1 start, has been told he’s the team’s starting quarterback for their next game against the Chicago Bears, sports writer Scott Reynolds at our partner PewterReport.com says.
Jameis Winston, considered the franchise quarterback, will serve as the team’s backup QB when they head to Chicago.
Winston had been serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He has returned to the Bucs’ practice facility and resumed on-field work with the team, something he was prohibited from doing during the suspension.
“Did you miss me?,” Winston asked with a smile at his first press conference Wednesday since rejoining his teammates.
Quite frankly, the team hasn’t exactly missed Winston. Fitzpatrick is off to a historic start to the season, becoming the first quarterback to throw for 400 yards in three consecutive games in NFL history.
Fitzpatrick, taking the league by storm in earning the nickname “Fitzmagic,” also was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks to start the season.
However, an inconsistent performance at home in a 30-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football opened the window for Head Coach Dirk Koetter to consider Winston upon his return from suspension. Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions in the first half before a second half rally fell three points short.
Winston started 45 of 48 games over the first three years of his career. He was suspended following the NFL’s investigation of an accusation that in March 2016 he groped a female Uber driver during a ride in Scottsdale, Arizona.
