The Buccaneers’ quarterback carousel continues to spin, and after getting benched during the Cincinnati game in which he threw four interceptions three weeks ago, Jameis Winston is now back under center for Tampa Bay as the team hosts San Francisco on Sunday.

Winston came close to rallying the Bucs in a 38-35 loss to the New York Giants last week and that was enough for head coach Dirk Koetter to make the QB change and bench Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw three interceptions before giving way to Winston in the third quarter. Winston mounted four touchdown drives and brought the Bucs to within striking distance before a long distance prayer, with less than 20 seconds remaining, was picked off by the Giants’ B.W. Webb. That pick extinguished a valiant effort as the Bucs fell to 3-7 on the year and are mired in the NFC South basement.

The prescient oddsmakers at one of the most respectable and trusted online sportsbooks, Bovada, tagged the Giants as three-point home favorites and after 73 combined points, the final score landed right on the number. No blood was drawn on either side as the game is labeled a push and backers of both the Bucs and Giants get their wagers returned.

So now the Bucs will host the 49ers and the new Bay area’s savior at large, Nick Mullins. You may recall that the former undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi debuted a few weeks ago and impressed by throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns in the Niners’ 34-3 decimation of the neighboring Oakland Raiders. It was a historic debut by all measures, but Mullins came back to earth last week when San Francisco fell 27-23 to the Giants as he went a far more pedestrian 27-of-39 for 250 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. This week will be another revealing chapter for the young quarterback as the public is eager to know whether he is a one-hit-wonder or a platinum-selling artist.

Speaking of quarterback curiosities, there is one in Tampa Bay regarding Winston. At times the former No. 1 overall pick in 2015 can look stunning with a unique athletic ability that allows him to take the edge under pressure or launch a laser to a streaking target. However, Winston can be impetuous, as well as reckless, which has landed him on the bench this season after he served a three-game suspension to start the year.

There is little hope in in Tampa Bay that the Bucs can rebound and make the playoffs – let alone a modestly respectable .500 season. As the season enters the home stretch, and after this week’s game against San Francisco, the Bucs have home dates with archrivals Carolina and New Orleans. Following those divisional tilts, Tampa Bay will hit the highway and take on Baltimore and Dallas with the 2018 regular-season finale at Raymond James Stadium with a game against the disappointing Atlanta Falcons.

In order to end the year at 8-8, the Bucs would have to win five of their remaining six and the way this defense is playing – or more accurately not playing – your chances of building an igloo in the Mojave might hold better odds. The more pressing concern is the status of Winston after this season and whether or not the Bucs’ brass chooses pay him his $20.92 million fifth-year option. But more to the point is that most teams explore a new pact with their high round draft picks before the last year of the rookie deal is done.

At this point, no one is really certain what promise Winston holds in the foreseeable future. He is at times a stellar playmaker and at others, a frustratingly poor decision-maker. The Bucs have six more games to decide, but it will be curious as to how the fans react when a determination is ultimately made concerning Winston’s future.