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With quarterback Jameis Winston serving a three-game NFL suspension to open the 2018 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. In his 14th NFL season, Fitzpatrick made league history by becoming the first player to pass for at least 400 yards in three consecutive games.
When Fitzpatrick didn’t keep up that pace in the fourth game, the Bucs replaced him at halftime with Winston. Back in the position he’d held since being the first player picked in the 2015 NFL Draft, Winston has started the three games since.
But on Sunday, Fitzpatrick made a relief appearance for Winston after the former Hueytown High School standout threw four interceptions in a 37-34 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I just can’t play like that,” Winston said. “Having balls all over the place, not giving our team a chance to win — I’ve just got to fix it.”
Winston completed 18-of-35 passes for 276 yards with one touchdown — a 60-yarder to wide receiver DeSean Jackson with Tampa Bay trailing by three touchdowns in the second quarter.
When Cincinnati safety Jessie Bates returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown to give the Bengals a 34-16 lead with 2:10 left in the third quarter, Winston went out and Fitzpatrick came in.
Fitzpatrick rallied the Bucs by completing 11-of-15 passes for 194 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 18-yard TD pass and 2-point conversion throw with 65 seconds left to play allowed Tampa Bay to pull into a 34-34 tie before the Bengals pulled out the victory with a field goal on the game’s final snap.
Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter was asked after the game if Winston would remain the starting quarterback.
“Today’s not the day I have to decide that,” Koetter said. “I don’t have any problem making decisions, and I’ll make it when the time’s right. But now’s probably not the right time to make it.”
Winston was among the 30 former Alabama high school and college players (that didn’t play for Alabama or Auburn) who got on the field on the eighth Sunday of the NFL’s 2018 season.
Other former state players who started on Sunday included:
· Defensive end Mario Addison (Tarrant, Troy) and left cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) of the Carolina Panthers in a 36-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Bradberry made six tackles.
· Running back Jordan Howard (Gardendale, UAB) of the Chicago Bears ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a 24-10 victory over the New York Jets. Howard scored on a 2-yard run with 7:08 left in the game to set the final score.
· Right defensive end Michael Johnson (Dallas County) of the Bengals made four tackles, shared a sack and broke up a pass against the Buccaneers.
· Right offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB) of the Cleveland Browns in a 33-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
· Wide receiver Chester Rogers (Lee-Huntsville) of the Indianapolis Colts caught a 2-point conversion pass and returned a punt for 10 yards in a 42-28 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
· Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) of the Kansas City Chiefs caught three passes for 70 yards, including a 40-yarder, and returned three punts for 15 yards in a 30-23 victory over the Denver Broncos. Hill left in the fourth quarter with a groin injury.
· Right cornerback Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama) of the New York Giants made six tackles in a 20-13 loss to the Washington Redskins.
· Running back Isaiah Crowell (Alabama State) and nose tackle Steve McLendon (Carroll-Ozark, Troy) of the Jets against the Bears. Crowell ran for 25 yards on 13 carries and caught a 13-yard pass. McLendon recorded one tackle.
· Center Rodney Hudson (B.C. Rain) of the Raiders against the Colts.
· Safeties Jaquiski Tartt (Davidson, Samford) and Jimmie Ward (Davidson) of the San Francisco 49ers in an 18-15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Before leaving the game because of a shoulder injury, Tartt made one tackle and set up a field goal for the 49ers’ first points with a 23-yard return to the Arizona 12 on his first interception of the season. Ward recorded three tackles.
Alabama NFL roundup: O.J. Howard puts knee injury behind him
Other former state players seeing action Sunday included:
· Cardinals wide receiver J.J. Nelson (Midfield, UAB) against the 49ers.
· Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) against the Panthers. Pierce had two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, and Smith recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit.
· Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (Murphy) made three tackles and intercepted a pass against the Ravens. The 12th interception of Munnerlyn’s career came in the third quarter. A 2-yard return gave the Panthers possession at the Baltimore 49 and the Carolina offense turned the takeaway into a field goal for a 27-7 lead.
· Bengals wide receiver Cody Core (Auburn High) against the Buccaneers.
· Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) and defensive end Eric Lee (Daphne) in a 28-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Abdullah returned three kickoffs for 77 yards. But on a 32-yard return in the second quarter, Abdullah lost a fumble and the Seahawks scored a touchdown three plays later to take a 14-7 lead. Lee registered one tackle.
· Chiefs cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) returned three kickoffs for 82 yards against the Broncos.
· Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) caught a 22-yard pass in a 29-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
· Minnesota Vikings running back Roc Thomas (Oxford, Jacksonville State) had one carry for a 1-yard loss in a 30-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
· Saints defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (Murphy) made one tackle against the Vikings.
· Giants linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford), who made his first two NFL tackles in last week’s game, made six more and broke up a pass against the Redskins. But he also had a running-into-the-kicker penalty that extended a Washington possession in the fourth quarter.
· Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) and wide receiver Seth Roberts (West Alabama) against the Colts. Roberts caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown reception with 11:56 left in the second quarter for Oakland’s first points of the game. Morrow made two tackles and broke up a pass.
· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) caught four passes for 93 yards in a 24-18 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
· Buccaneers defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) against the Bengals.
Auburn NFL roundup: Cam Newton too much for NFL’s No. 1 defense
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Cardinals offensive tackle Korey Cunningham (Montevallo), Bears defensive tackle Nick Williams (Minor, Samford), Broncos safety Darian Stewart (Lee-Huntsville) and Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) were designated as inactive.
Cardinals offensive tackle Blaine Clausell (Baker) and 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) were active, but didn’t play.
The eighth week of the 2018 NFL season concludes when the New England Patriots visit the Buffalo Bills at 7:15 p.m. CDT Monday. ESPN will televise the game.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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