Jameis Winston injury update: Bucs QB leaves game with shoulder injury

Jameis Winston left Sunday’s shellacking at the hands of the Cardinals with a shoulder injury.

Tampa Bay’s season, one that many pegged to be of the breakthrough variety, hinged on how well Jameis Winston played. He didn’t start the game on Sunday against the Cardinals well, and he didn’t finish it.

Winston suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of a blowout against Arizona. It wasn’t clear what play he was injured on, as the Bucs unceremoniously announced that he was doubtful in the middle of a drive where the Cardinals put up more points.

Winston was up and moving on the sideline, not appearing to be in any real amount of pain. It was in stark contrast to the injury earlier in the day to Aaron Rodgers, in which the Packers quarterback was carted off the field with a broken collarbone.

In his absence, Ryan Fitzpatrick will be subbing in for however long Winston is out. It’s hardly an ideal situation for Tampa Bay, but Fitzpatrick has plenty of experience as a starter with a number of different teams. From leading the Bills to their last winning season to flaming out with the Jets, Fitzpatrick has a wide spectrum of what kind of quality he will provide.

No matter what he provides, it won’t be what Bucs fans want. Tampa Bay is only as good as Jameis Winston allows them to be and when he’s out they’re a completely different football team.