NFC South Notes: Jameis Winston, Buccaneers, Falcons

Jameis Winston

Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston returned to the team on Wednesday after serving a three-game suspension and was asked how he’d handle the possibility of being the team’s backup quarterback behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“The most important thing is the success we are having,” said Winston, via ESPN.com. “I’m just happy to be back, man. I’m happy that I can be a part of that. I’m not watching from a distance. I can be here with my teammates.”

“I think it’s exciting. I’m at home — sometimes you don’t wanna hear the people in your house so [you’ve] got to get to a place by [yourself] because [you’re] all in it — but it’s exciting,” Winston added. “We’re having a lot of success and I want that to continue and I know it will.”

“Me being back — nothing’s changed. I’m just happy that I can be a part of that. When we have a win, I can come off [the field] and dab guys up and celebrate with them. That’s the part that you miss — that team bonding — because you do this together. It’s tough going out there and getting wins.”

“I’ve seen the beards. When a guy throws for 400 yards three games in a row, you’ve got to love that, and as a community, we’ve gotta get behind this team because when we’re winning, when things are going good, we’ve gotta capitalize on that.”

Buccaneers

• Adam Schefter reports that Buccanneers S Chris Conte played with a torn PCL Monday night. A source tells Schefter that Conte “gutted it out and honestly shouldn’t have played.”
• Tampa Bay placed Conte on injured reserve Tuesday. (NFLTR)
• The Buccaneers brought in OT Christian DiLauro for a workout on Tuesday. (Howard Balzer)

Falcons

• Falcons HC Dan Quinn said on 92.9 The Game Wednesday that RB Devonta Freeman is “getting closer” and the plan is for him to participate in “some of the walkthroughs.”