According to Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is still not cleared from concussion protocol. Tampa Bay returned to practice on Tuesday after a long weekend off, but Winfield’s health remained a question mark. The second-year safety was injured in Week 4 against the Patriots. Winfield has missed two games, but is hopeful to be cleared for Week 7 against the Bears.

“Not yet,” Arians said after Tuesday’s practice. “Got my fingers crossed on two or three guys. But it’s going to go to the wire, probably.”

The news on Winfield is a little bit surprising, since Arians indicated last week that he likely would have been cleared for a Sunday game. But the Bucs played on Thursday night against the Eagles, and Winfield couldn’t get cleared on the short week. Tampa Bay’s starting free safety has an interception, a forced fumble and two pass breakups this season. He played every snap until his injury in the second half against the Patriots.

Bucs S Mike Edwards – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If Winfield can’t get cleared by Sunday, Mike Edwards would continue to start in his place. Jordan Whitehead would likely continue to see 100 percent of the defensive snaps at strong safety as well. The Bucs starting five in the secondary have played zero snaps together this season. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting are currently on injured reserve. They likely won’t return for a few more weeks. Top backup Richard Sherman is also nursing an injured hamstring that will sideline him for a couple weeks.

The Bucs (5-1) host the visiting Chicago Bears (3-3) on Sunday at 4:25 pm.