Jameis Winston will reportedly play Sunday's Saints-Buccaneers game with a significant injury to his back.
Per Jay Glazer of Fox, the New Orleans quarterback will suit up today while experiencing significant pain due to fractures to his L1 through L4 vertebrae. He suffered the injury in the Week 1 victory over the Falcons, a game in which he completed 23 of 34 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Winston was briefly checked out in the medical tent on the sidelines during that victory, and was listed as questionable for the Week 2 game with a back injury. Glazer, however, reports that "there is no risk of further damage" to Winston:
The Inside Scoop – BREAKING NEWS… Jameis Winston is playing today for the #Saints with 4 fractures in his back, updates on #Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s injury, and the culture change Head Coach Brian Daboll is bringing to the #Giants. @NFLonFOX #NFL pic.twitter.com/kqPlGkEvlB
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 18, 2022
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Glazer reports that the Saints gave Winston four different types of additional padding to further protect his back. The L1 through L4 vertebrae descend, in order, downward toward the tailbone, with the L4 vertebrae the second-lowest on the lumbar spine (the L5 vertebrae is right above the tailbone).
Following the Saints' Week 1 victory vs. Atlanta, Winston said he was experiencing "pain everywhere."
“I love this organization, I love these teammates, I love my team.” @ShannonSpake caught up with Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston after the @Saints 27-26 Week 1 comeback win ‼️@Cantguardmike x @Jaboowins pic.twitter.com/wF88Cq7RAv
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 11, 2022
Winston isn't the only Saints player who was questionable entering Sunday's game. The New Orleans injury report features several inactives vs. Tampa Bay, including several offensive players (most notably running back Alvin Kamara):
- Cornerback Paulson Adebo
- Offensive lineman Wyatt Davis
- Running back Alvin Kamara
- Receiver Tre'Quan Smith
- Defensive end Payton Turner
- Tight end Nick Vannett
The Saints will play a Buccaneers defense that did not allow a touchdown vs. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in Week 1 (the only team to not score a touchdown in their season-opener).
