Training camp is finally here, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are opening things without one of their key players. Tristan Wirfs was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday, and the expectation is that he’ll miss all of camp and the entire preseason.
Compounding the pain of losing Wirfs is how slim the pickings are when it comes to options for replacing him. Free agency wasn’t exactly robust with offensive tackles to begin with and it’s an even shallower pool as training camp gets underway.
That hasn’t stopped the Bucs from identifying former Seattle Seahawks starter George Fant as a potential short-term replacement for Wirfs to start the season. According to reports, Tampa Bay is bringing Fant in for a workout to potentially add some much-needed depth with Wirfs expected to miss some time to start the year.
Source: Former #Seahawks OT George Fant is working out for the #Bucs today.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 22, 2025
Fant has 75 career starts, and Tampa Bay is exploring options at OT with All-Pro Tristan Wirfs expected to miss the start of the season due to a knee injury. pic.twitter.com/E1myZ46LWb
Buccaneers could take a flier on George Fant to help replace Tristan Wirfs
Fant is the definition of a flier, but he’s someone who has the right type of upside for a team looking for a short-term replacement. Back in 2018 he posted PFF grades in the mid-70s across the board, and is a year removed from having a 68.2 run blocking grade with Seattle.
That’s not exactly Pro Bowl-level stuff, but it’s something that could help the Bucs keep things on track while Wirfs rests. Ultimately that’s what this is all about, as Fant won’t need to come in and be the guy all season, and he might not even need to do it for as long as we all fear.
Getting Fant on the roster — if he’s a fit — could mean that the Bucs opt against putting Wirfs on the PUP list to start the season. That would mean he wouldn’t automatically miss the first quarter of the season and could return for a big game against Philly during that stretch.
Of course, the best thing is for Wirfs to get healthy for the second half of the season and a potential playoff push. If that means needing to ride things out with Fant, or someone like him, than so be it. The big picture is what matters here and the Bucs need Wirfs healthy for it to come into focus.
Fant could still be a part of that, though. Tampa Bay is going to rely on Charlie Heck to help replace Wirfs but bringing in a former starter on a playoff-caliber team is huge and goes to show just how little the Bucs are messing around with Super Bowl aspirations on everyone’s mind.
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