Why Bucs fans can breathe a sigh of relief about Antoine Winfield Jr. Antoine Winfield Jr. is just fine. The Bucs safety sent a chill through Raymond James Stadium late in Sunday's 30-12 win over the Jaguars when he left the game and had to be checked for a concussion. Winfield passed the protocol, but Tampa Bay was not going to risk sending him back onto the field for mop-up duty. He has proven to be much too valuable to risk as they are making a playoff push. "We're just coming together at the right time, that's all I can really say," Winfield said. "You always want that build-up to the playoffs, so we're just clicking right now." Winfield is one reason why. Sunday, he continued his dominating season with a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. It was the second game this season in which he had at least one sack and at least one interception. Only he and Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith have done so twice this season. Winfield became the first defensive back since 1999 with five or more sacks and five or more forced fumbles in a single season. He also is one of four players since 2000 with five or more sacks, five or more takeaways and five or more forced fumbles in a season. Winfield, however, was focused on the broader team effort after the game. "Great game plan. We executed all around, so we just have to continue to do that more," he said. "That really starts in your preparation in practice and things like that. We knew what type of game it was going to be. We just came here and executed (Sunday)." Diaby dominating Rookie outside linebacker YaYa Diaby had 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and five tackles, including four solo stops. The scary thought for opposing quarterbacks is that Diaby, who now leads the Bucs with 6.5 sacks, is just getting comfortable. "He's settling in; he's feeling comfortable," head coach Todd Bowles said. "We kind of let him go a little bit. He's adding to the tools he had in college and making it his own." The forced fumble was Diaby's first in the NFL. "I feel great," he said. "I've just got to keep building, keep doing it and keep coming to work every day to just kind of get better." Injury updates While the Bucs may have dodged a bullet with Winfield on the injury front, they had concerns about outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett and cornerback Carlton Davis after Sunday's game. "I know Shaq has a groin," Bowles said. "I don't have anything on Carlton yet. I don't know how bad Shaq is at this time." Davis left the game with a concussion, the team announced. Kristie Ackert, Tampa Bay Times, published 26 December 2023