Despite being arguably the most prolific passer so far this season, Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely be given a clipboard after starting Monday night’s game against the Steelers.
Former No. 1 pick Jameis Winston will return from a three-game suspension following the game against Pittsburgh, but if it were up to Tampa Bay receiver DeSean Jackson, Fitzpatrick would run the offense until his “fire is out.”
"He's been on fire right now," Jackson told NFL Network on Monday. "With the way the team is rallying behind him and just playing lights-out football, you have to kind of honor it. You can't take the hot man out. You got the hot fire right now. It's like NBA Jam. We used to play NBA Jam — whoever's got that hot fire shot, you got to keep shooting, man.
"It's not my decision but I'm sure [coach] Dirk [Koetter] and [offensive coordinator Todd] Monken and the guys that make those calls, they'll make sure they stay on fire until that fire is out."
Fitzpatrick, who leads the league in yards passing (819) and passer rating among starting quarterbacks (151.5), joins Patrick Mahomes (2018) and Drew Bledsoe (1997) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least four touchdown passes in each of their team's first two games of a season.
Jackson has been a major beneficiary of Fitzpatrick’s play with nine receptions for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He had three touchdowns all of 2017 with Winston under center.