TAMPA — Jameis Winston had better stay healthy.
Winston became the only quarterback on the Bucs roster who has taken a snap in a regular-season NFL game after the team placed veteran backup Blaine Gabbert on injured reserve Tuesday.
Gabbert injured his left shoulder in the third preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and was inactive the first three games.
But the shoulder apparently hasn’t responded fast enough to treatment. That means Ryan Griffin, a six-year veteran who has been with the Bucs since 2015, will continue on as the No. 2 quarterback. Griffin has never thrown a pass in a regular-season NFL game.
Former Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald is on the Bucs’ practice squad.
To replace Gabbert’s spot, the Bucs signed outside linebacker Patrick O’Connor from the practice squad.
Bucs Preview 2019
A look ahead at Bruce Arians’ first year in Tampa Bay and a critical season for Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers.