Getty Antonio Brown's status for the Super Bowl remains in doubt.
Antonio Brown playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl took a step back on Wednesday.
The star wide receiver missed the NFC Championship game on Sunday due to injury as did safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Bucs head coach Bruce Arians didn’t have a promising update for either in a WDAE interview on Tuesday.
“I think it’s too early,” Arians told WDAE per Pewter Report. “Neither one of those guys will probably practice this week and we’ll see how it rolls out next Tuesday for both of them.”
Brown injured his knee on Jan. 17 in the Divisional Round at New Orleans while Winfield didn’t play against Green Bay on Sunday due to an ankle injury — a game-time decision. Both Brown and Winfield were expected to be healthy for the Super Bowl according to sources, ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported, on Tuesday.
Life Without Brown, Winfield
Tampa’s offense kept humming without Brown at Green Bay with a 31-26 victory and Lambeau Field. Bucs quarterback Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes, including a 39-yard bomb to wide receiver Scotty Miller late in the first half. Brady also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to star receiver Mike Evans and an eight-yard touchdown to tight end Cameron Brate.
Miller’s touchdown grab from Brady went viral on social media.
BUCS PUT 7 MORE ON THE BOARD WITH 1SEC LEFT IN THE HALF!! 😱
Tom Brady connects with Scotty Miller for the score 🏴☠️
(via @NFL)
The Bucs offense also fared well in New Orleans with Brown in a limited capacity. He posted one reception for 10 yards, and he hardly played in the second half after hurting his knee before halftime. Brady threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints in a 30-20 win at the Superdome.
Winfield made an impact on defense in the Bucs’ win over the Saints with a forced fumble and six tackles. The Bucs defense made do without Winfield against the Packers, limiting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company to a field goal after pulling within five points, 28-23.
Winfield’s forced turnover against the Saints went viral per the NFL.
Winfield forces it out and Devin White recovers for the Bucs!
📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: t.co/kJOiprK712
Strong Season Going
Brown picked up steam late in the regular season after joining the Bucs as a free agent in October.
He caught 45 passes for 483 yards and four touchdowns — all four coming in December. The former Pro Bowler also hauled in a 36-yard touchdown from Brady in the Wild Card game at Washington on Jan. 9.
Father-Son Duo
Winfield may play in the Super Bowl, something his father and former NFL star Antoine Winfield Sr. never did.
The younger Winfield, however, missed out on a chance for a unique piece of history missing the Packers game on Sunday. He could have made him and Winfield Sr., “the first father-son duo to intercept the same QB” per WTSP’s Grace Remington. Winfield Sr. picked off Rodgers in 2009.
Winfield Jr. didn’t get a pick against the Rodgers in the Bucs’ first meeting with the Packers in October, but the star quarterback recognized the Winfield name per Remington.
This is cool. Aaron Rodgers recognized the Winfield name right away.
On playing @AntoineWJr11 and his dad: “I think that might be a first for me. Great reminder that in this league, the years get on you pretty fast.” #GoBucs #GoPackGo
Winfield Sr., ironically, is the same age as his son’s future Hall-of-Fame teammate, Brady — 43. The elder Winfield picked off Brady in his first season as a starter for the Patriots in 1999 per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Bucs select Antoine Winfield, Jr., whose father Antoine Winfield, Sr. intercepted new Bucs QB Tom Brady all the way back in 2001, Brady’s first season as a starting QB.
Winfield Sr.’s experience benefitted the younger Winfield this season as several quarterbacks from Winfield Sr.’s days still play per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud.
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