Thursday, 4 a.m.
At a time their season is at its healthiest, the Tampa Bay Bucs are walking with a pronounced limp.
The Bucs, who play with a .500 record in the offing in Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, are wearing out the training room this week.
Quarterback Jameis Winston... fractured thumb.
Receiver Mike Evans ... pulled hamstring
Tackle Donovan Smth ... ankle and knee injuries.
It all hampers the Bucs' ability get to a 7-7 record against the Lions Sunday. Evans is doubtful. Winston didn't throw Wednesday, but he finished Sunday's game and is expected to start.
"That's the plan," said Bucs coach Bruce Arians. "He'll throw before we get there. We'll see how it goes."
Winston said he injured his hand just before halftime. He didn't notice it until he came back out of the locker room and began to throw.
I think it’s getting better every day and I’m just taking it day by day," Winston said. ”It’s a great time to get some good work in at doing everything. (It’s a) great time [to get] some work for Griff (Ryan Griffin). For me, I’m going to be ready to go as soon as I can.”
Winston is within seven yards of Dak Prescott for the NFL passing yardage lead, but leads the league in interceptions thrown.
Winston will try to reach .500 for the second time in his career Sunday.
“The big thing is just finishing strong one game at a time," Winston said. "That’s what we’re focused on right now. We know that we love winning, and as long as we love winning, we want to be on that winning side of the field. We’ve just got to continue to approach each game like it’s our last, give our best and go out there and try to win.”
Winston said it wasn't hard to keep from speculating about his future.
“It’s quite easy, really," Winston said. "When you’ve got a game every week. I got an opponent to focus on and it’s bigger than me. It’s about this team, so we got to focus on how we are going to try to beat the Detroit Lions and whoever our opponent is next week. But right now it’s the Lions and we’ve got to focus on that.”
The Bucs and Lions play at 1 p.m. Sunday. in Detroit