Koetter delays QB's speech until Jameis Winston returns

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an imminent decision to take at quarterback.

Jameis Winston is allowed to return after a three-game suspension after the third week's match against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Buccaneers kicked off the game with Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter has chosen to beat for the moment when asked what will happen on Monday when Winston returns.

"I will not be the one to address the issue," Koetter told reporters. "We'll worry when the time is right, and right now we're going to start working on Pittsburgh and that's all that matters right now, everything else is in the future because everything could change like that. "

Buccaneers may publicly choose to ignore the issue in the minds of everyone before next week, but the decision will probably have to be made sooner than expected.

Without Winston, the passing game of the Buccaneers exploded. Fitzpatrick has rushed for more than 400 yards in two consecutive games and currently leads the league with yards (819) and a pass mark among the quarterbacks (151.5) and is second in touchdowns (eight).

"I do not know what you want me to say," Koetter told reporters. "The guy played a lot of football and played a lot of football in the NFL, he puts the ball on the money, he makes good decisions, he does not turn the ball."

Fitzpatrick has an interception, which Koetter said was not the appellant's fault, but he also accomplished something that Winston could not do in 2017.

The Buccaneers recruited receiver-general DeSean Jackson as a free agent last season to threaten Mike Evans, but Jackson had 50 assists for 668 yards and three touchdowns. With Fitzpatrick in 2018, Jackson posted two consecutive 100-yard attempts with three touchdowns.

In addition, Fitzpatrick has a key statistic in two seasons with the Buccaneers, which affects the defeats column. Including both games in the 2018 regular season, Fitzpatrick is 4-1 when he is called to start for Winston, who is 18-27.

What the Buccaneers choose to do by the quarter when Winston returns to the active list remains unknown. However, Fitzpatrick's tough game will make it extremely difficult to put it in jeopardy given the momentum, which led to an early start to the season in the NFC South competition.