While the Bucs are a far better team with Howard on the field — even though they’ve struggled all season utilizing him — sitting him out ensures his injury won’t get any worse and damage his trade value.
Coach Bruce Arians hasn't rejected the notion that the Bucs could become sellers at the trade deadline.
Nothing seemed amiss with Howard when the Bucs returned to practice from their open week Tuesday, though that session was more of a work-out-the-kinks walk-through than a normal game week practice.
Howard suddenly appeared on the team's injury report Wednesday, listed as a limited participant with a hamstring injury, and didn't participate in Thursday or Friday's practices at all.
This isn’t like last year’s trade deadline, when the Bucs decided against trading pending free agents Gerald McCoy and DeSean Jackson. The team was in a much different position then. Coach Dirk Koetter needed to pile up wins to save his job.
While the clock is ticking on Winston’s future as the team’s franchise quarterback — he makes $20.9 million this year in the final year of his rookie contract — both Arians and Licht are under contract through 2023.
