Former Buccaneers Quarterback Expected to Start Sunday With Saints

The former No. 1 overall pick is expected to start against the Buccaneers on Sunday in New Orleans.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still going over how to improve after a lackluster 25-11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football and will need to get those corrections implemented prior to their first NFC South divisional test against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Saints are also coming off a loss after surrendering a 17-point lead to the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday. Unfortunately for New Orleans, the game is not the only thing they lost as starting quarterback, Derek Carr, suffered a shoulder injury and will be held out of the contest to help begin the recovery process.

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The unavailability of Carr means that the Saints will most likely roll out former first-overall pick and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jameis Winston.

While Saints’ HC Dennis Allen characterized Derek Carr and his sprained AC joint as week to week, the team is going to be cautious with its QB and it would be a surprise if Carr played Sunday vs the Bucs.

So it’s setting up as Saints’ QB Jameis Winston vs. his former team.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2023

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft after dazzling the college landscape on his way to winning a National Championship and Heisman Trophy with Florida State University.

Jameis started pretty much every game of his five seasons in Tampa Bay, accumulating 19,737 yards through the air for 121 passing touchdowns to 88 interceptions. Perhaps his most "famous" season came during his final season in Tampa Bay where he accomplished the rare '30 for 30' - throwing 30 touchdowns AND 30 interceptions in one season.

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Following his stint with the Buccaneers, Jameis Winston moved on to another NFC South team, the New Orleans Saints, where he was brought on to learn from mentor Drew Brees.

Jameis has had minimal moments to showcase his stuff as the starter due to injury and coaches' decisions to run with another quarterback. However, against his former team, Winston boasts a 2-1 record while completing 32/51 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Jameis did not play the entirety of the games the Saints won against the Buccaneers and the one game that he did start the Saints ended up losing last season.

The Buccaneers, as well as Jameis, are very familiar with one another. If the Buccaneers can get pressure on Winston and get a bit lucky with their injury concerns in the secondary they could have a good shot to win this one.

No matter the outcome of the game, there is sure to be a Jameis moment at some point during the contest that will still leave him as the most unintentionally funny quarterback in the league.

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You can follow Caleb on Twitter @chsnole.

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