The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are starting off the new season on a bad foot.
ESPN reported Wednesday morning that offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is expected to miss the start of the season due to a knee injury.
According to sources, Wirfs had been wearing a knee brace through the Bucs’ offseason program. After going through several setbacks, he decided to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday.
Reportedly Wirfs will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, which will rule him out for a minimum of four games to start the year.
Tampa Bay is full of talented players: Mike Evans, Lavonte David, Bucky Irving, and many more. But Wirfs has a case as the most underrated and integral piece of the team.
After being drafted in 2020, the offensive tackle became an instant starter, a Super Bowl champion, and has only missed four games for Tampa Bay his entire career.
Wirfs started as a right tackle but was moved to left tackle in 2023 to protect Baker Mayfield’s blind side. He became the first player in NFL history to be named an All-Pro as a left and a right tackle.
Throwback to when 320 pound Tristan Wirfs proved NFL athletes are DIFFERENT 😳
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) July 4, 2025
Now Mayfield will enter the 2025 season without arguably his most important teammate. Yes, Evans will be catching passes and Irving will run through gaps, but the Bucs’ offense will suffer dearly without Wirfs.
The only hope is that he returns sooner, rather than later.
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