For years, Antoine Winfield Jr. has been the player Tampa Bay could count on to change a game. Whether it was a sack, forced fumble, interception, or perfectly timed tackle, Winfield had a way of showing up when the Bucs needed something to happen. Through three games in 2026, that version of Winfield has been difficult to find. Winfield has 18 tackles through Tampa Bay’s 0-3 start, but the impact plays have disappeared. He has zero sacks, zero interceptions, zero forced fumbles, and zero passes defensed. After recording nine tackles against Cincinnati, he had only four against Cleveland and five against Minnesota.
Those numbers stand out because creating chaos has always separated Winfield from other safeties. In his All-Pro 2023 season, he finished
with 122 tackles, six sacks, six forced fumbles, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, and four fumble recoveries. Even last season, when he was not producing at that ridiculous level, Winfield still had two interceptions, eight passes defensed, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. This season, he has essentially disappeared from the splash play column. PFF has Winfield graded at just 61.2 overall through three games, ranking 40th among 79 qualified safeties. His 56.7 coverage grade ranks 47th, and quarterbacks have generated a 148.8 passer rating when targeting him. He has allowed four completions while failing to record a breakup.
That does not mean Winfield suddenly became a bad player. Safety production can depend heavily on assignment, and playing deep can naturally remove a defender from some opportunities. Tampa Bay has also undergone changes around him, including Tykee Smith taking on a larger role alongside him. But Winfield is being paid to be more than someone who simply handles his assignment. He is supposed to be the difference maker on the back end. That becomes even more important with Lavonte David no longer running the defense. Winfield is now one of the established veterans Tampa Bay needs to set the tone, especially when communication and coverage breakdowns have already hurt the defense. For a player who built his reputation on always finding the football when the Bucs needed him most, it is fair to start asking one question. Where is Antoine Winfield Jr.?
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs need more from Antoine Winfield Jr. on defense
