Tampa Bay Buccaneers shutting down injured QB Jameis Winston

Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday announced quarterback Jameis Winston will be shut down for at least two weeks because of a right shoulder injury.

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter told reporters in Tampa that Winston underwent an MRI on his throwing shoulder but declined to discuss the findings.

“They’re saying this is not structural, but they want to shut him down,” Koetter said. “Right now they’re saying at least two weeks.”

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Florida State, Winston will miss Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets and the Nov. 19 game against the Dolphins in Miami, then be re-evaluated.

Winston suffered the shoulder injury in a Week 6 setback to the Arizona Cardinals, but started the next three games – losses to the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints – as the Bucs fell to 2-6.

Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who saw extensive time in the losses to the Cardinals and Saints, will start this week against his former team. Ryan Griffin, who has been on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, will be activated and serve as the backup against the Jets, Koetter said.

This story was originally published November 6, 2017 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Tampa Bay Buccaneers shutting down injured QB Jameis Winston."