Report: Bucs expected to start Fitzpatrick over Winston

Jameis Winston might be back in uniform for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after his three-game suspension, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is still expected to get the start Sunday in Chicago against the Bears, according to a report from ESPN.

According to the report, Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter has told the quarterbacks of his plans for the next few weeks, which include a bye week next week before travelling to Atlanta on Oct. 14.

Fitzpatrick has led the Buccaneers to a 2-1 start, throwing for a league-high 1,230 passing yards, fueling much speculation that he would keep the starting job after Winston's suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy ended.

Comments from Winston himself seemed to indicate an expectation that he'll be on the sidelines when the offence takes the field on Sunday against the Bears, who are also 2-1.

"I've seen the beards. When the guys throw for 400 yards, three games in a row, you gotta love that," Winston said. "As a community, we gotta get behind this team. Because when we are winning, things are good -- we gotta capitalize on that."

Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions to put Tampa Bay in an early hole against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, though the Bucs staged a second-half comeback that fell just short, 30-27.

Fitzpatrick, who signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay in May 2017 and was re-signed for this season, in on his seventh team. His longest stint with any one team is the four seasons he spent with the Buffalo Bills, starting 53 of the 55 games he played in.

In 136 games, he has completed 60 per cent of his passes for just over 28,000 yards, with 184 touchdowns and 140 interceptions.

(With inputs from agencies.)