Bucs' Winston tries hand with tennis balls at practice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is taking it slow as he works his way back from a hand injury. Winston worked with tennis balls on Thursday, with the idea that he'll progress to throwing footballs once his right thumb feels more comfortable.

The Buccaneers (6-7) hope to have Winston under center on Sunday (1 p.m. ET) when they visit the Detroit Lions (3-9-1). Winston sustained a hairline fracture of the thumb late in the second quarter of Sunday's 38-35 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. He said his right hand hit the helmet of Indianapolis defensive end, Al-Quadin Muhammad, just before halftime.

The 25-year-old Winston didn't know there was an issue until he returned to the field for the start of the third quarter and started having trouble gripping the football. He missed one series during the quarter because of the injury, with backup Ryan Griffin filling in. Winston passed for 456 yards against the Colts, a career-best and the third-highest single-game output in franchise history. He also threw four touchdown passes and was intercepted three times.

He ranks second in the NFL with 4,115 yards and is tied for second with 26 touchdown passes. But it is the league-high 23 interceptions -- also a career-worst -- that is placing Winston's future with the club in doubt. 

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