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Buccaneers switch back to Jameis Winston as starting quarterback

By The Sports Xchange
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter talks to quarterback Jameis Winston (3) during the first half on October 14, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter talks to quarterback Jameis Winston (3) during the first half on October 14, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter has changed his starting quarterback again.

Jameis Winston will become the starter again for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Monday.

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During his press conference earlier on Monday, Koetter said he had decided on a starting quarterback but was not ready to release that information to the public before talking with the two quarterbacks.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has started the past three games for the Bucs, but he threw three interceptions in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants before being replaced by Winston.

In his past three starts, Fitzpatrick has thrown seven interceptions and lost a fumble in three games.

While starting the first three games of the season while Winston was sitting out a three-game suspension, Fitzpatrick completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and four interceptions while throwing for more than 400 yards each time.

He started one more game before Winston took over as the starter.

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After entering Sunday's game, Winston completed 12-of-16 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Winston led four touchdown drives that helped the Buccaneers get back into what had been a one-sided game.

Koetter described Winston's play on Sunday as "fantastic."

Winston has had turnover issues this season. In fact, that is what caused him to be replaced as the starter.

In five games this season, including three starts, Winston has thrown eight touchdown passes and 11 interceptions, and he has also lost one fumble.

The Buccaneers have lost seven of their past eight games to drop to 3-7 on the season.

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