The Bucs released their final injury report on Friday ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Christmas Eve. From Tampa Bay’s side of things, the Bucs are the healthiest they’ve been in some time with safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and defensive lineman Will Gholston were listed as questionable. Winfield suffered a calf injury on Thursday and did not practice on Friday, while Gholston is still on the mend with ankle and knee injuries from the Falcons game three weeks ago.

Bucs rookie wide receiver Rakim Jarrett is coming off injured reserve and listed as out.

But the Bucs got an early Christmas gift as Pewter Report has learned that Antoine Winfield Jr. will play as his calf injury was not significant. That’s great news as Winfield has had a Pro Bowl-caliber season and has easily been Tampa Bay’s top defender this year.

Antoine Winfield Jr. Is Having A Career Year

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr.and OLB Markees Watts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has been a Pro Bowler in the past, but is having a career season during his contract year. Winfield’s 107 tackles are a career high and also lead Tampa Bay. He has career highs in pass breakups (11), forced fumbles (five) and fumble recoveries (three) – all of which lead the Bucs defense this year. Winfield has two interceptions, which is also tied for the team lead.

Calf injuries have been tough to deal with in Tampa Bay this year, as defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the team’s first-round pick, suffered a severe calf strain on the third day of training camp and was out until the season opener in Minnesota. He only played 11 snaps in that game before tweaking the injury and missing the next three games. Defensive tackle Mike Greene was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury on December 1 and remains out.

While the Bucs got some welcomed news with Antoine Winfield Jr.’s return to action, so did Jacksonville with quarterback Trevor Lawrence being cleared from concussion protocol on Saturday. Lawrence participated in the Jaguars’ practice on Friday and he is expected to start against the Bucs barring a setback.