It didn’t take long for Tampa Bay rookie safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. to impress the NFL coaches, teammates, and media that have been watching him ever since training camp started. And after two games in his NFL career, Winfield is already starting to earn praise on a national level.
Winfield, the Bucs’ second-round pick out of Minnesota, has been nominated for the Pepsi Rookie Of The Week after a great game against the Panthers on Sunday. Winfield recorded 11 tackles, his first career sack and his first career forced fumble in the Bucs’ 31-17 victory. His strip-sack of Teddy Bridgewater helped set up a 23-yard touchdown from Tom Brady to Mike Evans on the following play to give Tampa Bay a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Joining Winfield among the nominees is number one overall pick, quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, along with fellow quarterback and sixth overall pick, Justin Herbert from the Los Angeles Chargers. Running backs James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Jonathan Taylor from the Indianapolis Colts are also on the ballot. Winfield is the only defensive player in the group.
Bucs fans can vote for the weekly award here.
VOTE for the @pepsi Rookie of the Week: https://t.co/7qPYCPcESz pic.twitter.com/i0AJW25Ir3
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2020