Bucs team captain and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is going to miss the next two to four weeks due to having slightly fractured rib. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed the news on Tuesday as the Buccaneers get ready for a short week playing on Thursday Night Football against the Cowboys.

Winfield was injured near the end of the game in Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Packers and was seen holding his side. This a tough blow for the Buccaneers, who are already having bad season as it is with an 0-4 start. Winfield has been a leader on Tampa Bay’s defense and one of the team’s better players on that side of the ball. Through four games, he has made 24 tackles with one quarterback hit.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Bucs Have Big Loss Without Winfield 

Todd Bowles said Antoine Winfield’s replacement will be Ifeatu Melifonwu, who will get the start at safety next to Tykee Smith. Melifonwu was signed to the active roster last week after previously being on the practice squad and getting elevated each game. The only other safety currently on the roster is Miles Killebrew, who is on this team for his role on special teams. Tampa Bay does have the option of elevating J.J Roberts or Silas Walters from the practice squad for the game.

Tampa Bay lost an option with Sean Murphy-Bunting as he signed with Steelers today. That gives the Buccaneers some limited choices.

While Winfield hasn’t necessarily made the splash plays that he previously had, he’s a player that keeps the defense afloat and covers a lot of ground for everybody. Missing him for several weeks is going to be a crucial loss for this team especially going against a Cowboys team on Thursday that is second in the league, averaging 30.5 points per game.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

This is the second team captain on the roster that is going to miss extended time after quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his thumb a week ago. Winfield becomes the next player, and it comes at a time where the Buccaneers are 0-4 and don’t have many answers. This is when team leaders are expected to step up and help get the ship back on course, but unfortunately with Mayfield and Winfield, they won’t be able to.