The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Chicago Bears in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football, and it’s shaping up to be their most difficult test of the season to date.
The Bucs will need all hands on deck in order to pull off the road upset, but they may be shorthanded after some unexpected injury news.
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay’s best and most important player, appeared on the injury report after missing practice on Thursday with a toe injury. If he can’t go on Sunday night, it would be devastating for the Buccaneers.
Buccaneers can’t afford to lose Tristan Wirfs against the Bears
Wirfs, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, is the anchor of the Buccaneers’ offensive line. He’s widely considered one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, and he’s pivotal in protecting Baker Mayfield’s blind side and opening up holes in the running game.
Wirfs currently owns the second-highest pass-blocking grade among all offensive tackles per Pro Football Focus.
That kind of dependability is difficult to replace, especially against a ferocious Bears defense that has sacked opposing quarterbacks 22 times this season -- tied for fifth-most in the NFL..
It’s unclear when Wirfs’ toe injury took place. He finished Sunday’s game with no apparent issues or any mentions of an injury postgame.
The severity is unclear, and Bucs fans arw holding their collective breath that this isn’t turf toe or a lingering injury that will impact Wirfs’ availability down the stretch. Whenever head coach Todd Bowles speaks to the media next, Wirfs’ status for Sunday night will be the first question he’s asked about.
Ben Chukwuma could step in at left tackle if Tristan Wirfs can’t play vs. Bears
Ben Chukwuma is Tampa Bay’s swing tackle, and he’s already filled in this season to replace Luke Goedeke in Week 7. He’d likely step in once again, this time at left tackle, if Wirfs can’t go on Sunday night.
The Buccaneers have a lot of confidence in Chukwuma, and Bowles went as far as to say he has a future as an NFL starter. So at the very least, the Buccaneers have a capable backup if Wirfs is sidelined.
But when going against a Super Bowl contending squad like the Bears, you don’t want to be without any of your best players. Wirfs missing Week 9 would be a major blow, and his status is something to monitor leading up to Sunday.
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