Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. “ate a W” after a called-back interception, moments after Jameis Winston injured his knee.
The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers game was paused in the second quarter after quarterback Jameis Winston was down on the field after suffering a left knee injury and was eventually carted off the game. Winston was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Trevor Siemian, who entered in relief of Winston, threw an apparent interception in the end zone shortly after the injury. Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who picked off the pass, decided to celebrate by “eating a W.”
Antoine Winfield Jr. “eats a W” after called-back interception
That is synonymous with Winston, who used that phrase during a pregame speech in 2017 against the Saints. This was during Winston’s time as the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback. “Eating a W” has been used by the opposition over the years. Even Winston “ate a W” last season when the Saints beat the Buccaneers 38-3.
As for Winfield’s interception, it ultimately did not count. After Siemian let go of the pass, he was hit in the back late by Tampa Bay defensive lineman Vernon Gholston and penalized for roughing the pass. Hence, Winfield’s interception was negated. The Saints took a 10-7 lead four plays later on a 23-yard field goal by Brian Johnson.
The Buccaneers did not have a great day at Caesar’s Superdome, as the Saints defense forced three turnovers on quarterback Tom Brady, including a pick-six in the closing minutes of regulation. Not only that, but Tampa Bay was also penalized 11 times in the game, as opposed to New Orleans’ two.
New Orleans defeated Tampa Bay, 36-27.
Winston is believed to have injured his ACL and potentially his MCL, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Jane Slater. The Saints will wait for official word on the injury and how much time he could miss.