Tristan Wirfs is expected to miss early-season time due to an injury suffered in 2024. Todd Bowles had said at minicamp Wirfs’ knee brace was precautionary, and the standout tackle was to be ready for training camp. But an arthroscopic surgery became necessary, calling into question how the severity of this injury went undetected during much of the offseason.
Wirfs’ timetable is still a bit murky, but the Bucs may not have their top offensive lineman until at least October. Wirfs is likely to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. The Bucs face the Falcons, Texans, Jets and Eagles over the first four games.
Reports of Wirfs’ surgery and likely early-season absence circulated earlier this month. As it stands, Bowles is not locking in a reserve/PUP stay just yet. That would prove costly for a Bucs team gunning for a fifth straight NFC South championship and sixth consecutive playoff berth.
“That I cannot tell you,” Bowles said (via JoeBucsFan.com) of Wirfs’ debut date. “I just know he’ll be ready sooner than later. I don’t know if it’s Week 1, 2, 3. He’ll definitely put the work in, so I don’t have a problem with that.”
Since this report emerged, NFL.com’s Sara Walsh added (via JoeBucsFan) faint hope exists of a Week 1 return. Wirfs’ importance could lead to the Bucs saving a roster spot for him and going week-to-week with the situation. A reserve/PUP placement would create an extra spot on the initial 53-man roster while ensuring Wirfs received an extended recovery timetable. Though, proceeding weekly with this matter would allow for Wirfs to debut if he is deemed healthy between Week 1 and Week 4.
Wirfs only missed one game due to the MCL sprain sustained last year, returning after a Week 12 absence to close out the season. As for how Wirfs returned but then missed minicamp and may be destined for a reserve/PUP list stay, Stroud notes the All-Pro blocker carried an asymptomatic issue in the offseason program. Bucs doctors then detected more damage in early July, leading to the scope.
The Bucs let 2024 swing tackle Justin Skule join the Vikings in free agency. They added ex-Texans backup Charlie Heck as a replacement. Skule, who made five starts last season, is on a one-year deal worth $2MM in Minnesota. Heck is at $1.57MM ($400K guaranteed) with Tampa Bay. (Both tackle moves occurred March 13.) Heck would be positioned to open the season at left tackle, and although the second-generation NFL O-lineman has made 23 career starts (including two with the 49ers last season), this obviously marks a steep downgrade from Wirfs — a three-time All-Pro who landed on the first team in 2024. Wirfs’ presence has been crucial to Baker Mayfield‘s midcareer rebound. Beyond him, the Bucs have three rookie-contract O-line starters to go with Ben Bredeson.
An Iowa product who transitioned from right to left tackle in 2023, Wirfs has delivered durability during a five-year career. He has missed more than one game in just one season (2022, when a high ankle sprain led to three injury-driven absences). Wirfs is tied to a five-year, $140.63MM extension that had been the top O-line contract until Rashawn Slater‘s recent Chargers payday.