Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston dealing with ankle injury
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has a sprained ankle but should be ready for Week 1, reports ESPN's Pat Yasinskas.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and Winston told reporters of the injury Monday after it was previously downplayed by head coach Lovie Smith. Winston sprained the ankle in the Buccaneers’ second preseason game against the Cincinatti Bengals.
Winston, the No. 1 pick of the 2015 draft, has struggled at times during the preseason. Koetter said the ankle affected Winston's performance in his third game against the Cleveland Browns, when he completed 6 of 15 passes for 90 yards and an interception. Winston was also sacked four times.
In three preseason games, Winston has completed 48.9 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
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Though the ankle has caused Winston pain, he said it will not bother him long-term.
“Pain is temporary,” Winston said, according to ESPN. “I really don't focus on that at all. I played last year at Florida State with a sprained ankle. That's the least of my worries. My job is to go out there and play quarterback and fight for the team.”
- Rohan Nadkarni
