Bucs Antoine Winfield Jr. Reveals Importance of Practice

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. did not play in the Bucs' first preseason game and is unlikely to suit up in the second game this Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars .

But when the "real games'' begin?

Winfield Jr. signed a four-year, $81 million extension this offseason, and is the Buccaneers most important player on defense.

So for now, for players like Winfield Jr. and the other Buccaneers star players, the joint practices are often the most competitive version of reps these players will get before the season.

"This is a game for us because we might not be playing in all the preseason games," said Winfield. "But this is a game for us, game speed, game mentality, so we've got to come out here and actually execute what we're doing."

Another good sign about the first day of joint practices was the fact neither team got into any scuffles or fights. This could be because head coach Todd Bowles indicated fines would be handed out if anyone did fight.

Winfield Jr. also spoke to the media about the overall feeling of the practice:

Related: Bucs’ Payne Durham Avoids Serious Injury, Return Date Set?

"It's great work for us to go and see different opponents, different guys, and different faces,'' he said. "It's always fun when we're going against another team, just the energy and the juice of it."

The Buccaneers will see a lot work from their reserve players in the Saturday preseason game vs. the Jaguars.