Report: Saints' Jameis Winston Suffered ACL Injury vs. Bucs; MCL Possibly Damaged

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston suffered an ACL injury during Sunday's 36-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Jane Slater of NFL Network. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Winston may have also damaged his MCL.

Those developments come after Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters he believed Winston suffered a "significant" knee injury. Earlier, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Winston was undergoing an MRI on the injury.

Winston signed with the Saints last April to serve as Drew Brees' backup after five up-and-down years as a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He re-signed with the team in the offseason after Brees retired and beat out Taysom Hill to earn the starting job to open the 2021 campaign.

The 27-year-old Florida State product has posted a 102.4 passer rating entering Week 8.

He's remained mostly durable throughout his career with his only injury-related absences coming in 2017 when he was sidelined by a sprained shoulder joint. He was placed on the COVID-19 list ahead of Week 15 last year.

Trevor Siemian entered Sunday's contest after Winston exited and figures to remain under center as long as the starter is sidelined. Siemian completed 16-of-29 passes for 159 yards, throwing one touchdown in the win over the Buccaneers.

Taysom Hill, who missed today's game with a concussion, may take more snaps as a quarterback if Winston misses extended time.

Winston showed promise as a playmaker with the Bucs but made too many mistakes. The key question is whether he can limit those to eventually reemerge as a franchise quarterback in New Orleans or elsewhere.