Jameis Winston was suspended for three games at the start of the 2018 NFL season. The NFL announced the suspension in June 2018 under its Personal Conduct Policy, and Winston missed Tampa Bay’s first three regular-season games.
The discipline arose from the league’s investigation into an allegation involving an Uber driver during a 2016 ride in Arizona. Winston acknowledged inappropriate conduct but disputed parts of the account. The NFL’s decision was separate from the criminal-justice process and applied specifically to league participation.
Ryan Fitzpatrick started at quarterback for the Buccaneers during Winston’s suspension. Tampa Bay opened the season with wins over the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Winston returned in Week 4, but the season later became unsettled as the Buccaneers moved between him and Fitzpatrick.
The main mix-up is with Winston’s earlier absences. He missed three games in 2017 because of a shoulder injury, but the 2018 absence was a three-game suspension, not an injury designation.