The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have a quarterback in Baker Mayfield who is fresh off a 41-touchdown season, but left tackle Tristan Wirfs remains the best individual player on this roster. Mayfield's resurgence has undoubtedly been aided by Wirfs evolving into an All-Pro player.
Any injury to Wirfs is sure to set off alarm bells within this fanbase. With Wirfs coming off a First Team All-Pro season, the Bucs were dealt a major kick in the groin when they were informed that the 2025 season will likely begin with Wirfs on the sidelines nursing an ailment.
Adam Schefter reported that Wirfs underwent surgery on his right knee and will likely begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. In all likelihood, Wirfs will miss some time at the beginning of the 2025 campaign, which is a nightmare for an offense working with a brand-new coordinator in Josh Grizzard.
Schefter reported that as Wirfs worked through his knee injury, multiple positive days would be hampered by setbacks. The Bucs seemingly decided to bite the bullet and get surgery before the season instead of letting it lie and risking something worse down the line.
Buccaneers All-Pro LT Tristan Wirfs likely to begin 2025 on PUP with knee injury
Wirfs has been the picture of durability in the first few years of his career, as he missed just four games in the NFL. All of those games came in the 2022 season, and he was still impressive enough to earn a Second Team All-Pro nod. In his five-year career, Wirfs has been a Pro Bowler four times and an All-Pro three times.
If the $140 million man is placed on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season, he will be out for the first four games of the season. These include road tilts against the Falcons and Texans as well as home matchups with the Jets and Eagles.
The leading candidate to replace Wirfs in the starting lineup is journeyman Charlie Heck. While he could provide competent play for a few games, the Bucs need to start worrying if Wirfs' injury forces him to miss a good chunk of the 2025 regular season.
There's no way to sugarcoat this. Losing Wirfs is a major blow for the Bucs' offense and the team's morale as a whole. If this injury forces Heck into the starting left tackle role for most of the season, that could have a major impact on what has become a very competitive NFC South race.