When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the season they did so without a pivotal piece of their offense.
As training camp approached, the team was given devastating news. Their All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs needed a clean up surgery and would not only miss all of camp but his recovery would extend the regular season.
The Bucs played their first four games without Wirfs shuffling center Graham Barton to left tackle. The results were middling but resulted in a 3-0 record for his return against the Eagles. While he hasn’t been as dominant as he traditionally is and missed Week 14 with an injury, he was still chosen at the NFC’s starting left tackle for the Pro Bowl games, an accomplishment that means a lot to him.
Unfortunately, Wirfs popped up on the injury report this week with a toe injury and has been ruled out against the Dolphins.
Buccaneers inactives for Week 17 vs. Dolphins
Here's everyone who will join Wirfs in being inactive for Sunday's game:
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Tristan Wirfs | OT | Toe |
Sterling Shepard | WR | Healthy Scratch |
Anthony Nelson | EDGE | Knee |
John Bullock | LB | Healthy Scratch |
Rashad Wisdom | S | Healthy Scratch |
Connor Bazelak | QB | Emergency 3rd QB |
The hope is it’s a one-game thing, but with the injury luck the Bucs have had, it will be a wait-and-see situation. Wirfs made the Pro Bowl, and when he was finally starting to feel back to normal, he’s set to miss yet another game.
Wirfs isn't the only player who is going to miss today's game, but the Bucs are also going into a must-win game as healthy as they could hope to be. While they don't have their All-Pro tackle, the Bucs also don't have many excuses for struggling against a team they should beat.
Tristan Wirfs isn't letting Buccaneers injuries be an excuse for losing streak
For as up-and-down as this season has been, Wirfs getting named to another Pro Bowl is a bright spot. It's one that doesn't blind anyone from the struggles, but isn't something he's ungrateful for.
"That was a big thing for me,” Wirfs said. “This one means a lot just because of all that. I was really skeptical, like will I be able to play like myself? I think these past couple of weeks I've felt more like myself than I have all year. So yeah, getting this honor means the world to me. It's been an up-and-down year, it's been a frustrating year. A lot of stuff has not gone how I wanted it to injury-wise, but yeah, to keep fighting through and keep battling, all the guys in here have my back and keep pushing me to get better and better, what more can you ask for?"
Wirfs' up and down year has extended beyond his injuries. He hasn’t had the inhuman season fans have come to expect and has allowed 2 sacks and 22 pressures. However, he’s returned to form over the last three weeks allowing zero sacks and just one pressure for a 92.5 offensive grade. A far cry from the 72.5 grade he accumulated from Weeks 4-12.
Part of the reason for the turnaround is Wirfs is starting to feel more like himself after all the injuries and lack of training camp.
"I think there's a combination of everything, like the injuries I've had this year and then missing out on all those reps in training camp. That's when you get your timing down, your footwork down, your hands, your eyes, your feet, everything. I started practicing and then I think it was the next week I was playing the Eagles. I was rehabbing then they're like you can start practicing and I was like, 'Alright, let's go,' and then it was on to the Eagles. So, just not having all those reps for me mentally was like... just [to] get that comfortability and that confidence back, coming off -- I didn't have a major knee surgery, but was on crutches for six weeks, then basically started playing. So yeah, just trying to find my set again during the middle of the season was tough, but the whole line had my back, Graham [Barton] had my back, Ben [Bredeson] had my back, Cody [Mauch], everybody.”
The support of his linemates went a long way for Wirfs, who has openly discussed his mental health struggles. Those thoughts still creep in once in a while, and did Tuesday morning before the Pro Bowl rosters were announced.
“They mean the world to me, and to get a Pro Bowl this year, I got a little emotional about it this morning because I had those thoughts like, 'How are you going to be? How's it going to go? Are you going to be yourself?' I think everyone does after surgery, but yeah, I was excited."