Florida State Seminoles

Jameis Winston confirmed as Buccaneers starting QB

Published Jul. 31, 2015 1:05 p.m. ET

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Jameis Winston is entering his first ever NFL season, but it does not sound like the rookie is facing much competition for a starting role.

At his first press conference of training camp this week, Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith confirmed that Winston will be Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback heading into the season.

“He’ll be taking first-team reps,” Smith said, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “It’s what we already knew, what we saw in camp, what he has done on and off the field here.”

Winston’s primary backup, Mike Glennon, has some starting experience but has not exactly been impressive. Former Bucs coach Greg Schiano tried to make him the guy in 2013, but Glennon was average at best. The same was true last season when he appeared in six games and threw 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

For all the character concerns we heard about Winston, the former Florida State star had a quiet first offseason as a pro. Aside from an incident at a bar that was nothing more than a fashion embarrassment, Winston has kept his nose clean. We know what he’s capable of on the field, so it’s not surprising Smith is giving him a chance to prove himself.

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