Surprising news has come about from the Bucs as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times has reported that Bucs’ All-Pro starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs will miss the beginning of the 2025 regular season.

According to Stroud, Wirfs re-aggravated a knee injury this offseason and as the team scheduled arthroscopic surgery for him, more damage to the knee was found. He did miss one game last season due to the same injury.

Tristan Wirfs did not participate during OTA’s or mandatory mini-camp this offseason but was seen at the facility watching his teammates participate. Wirfs did have a brace on his right leg during practice, but not much was thought of it besides just getting him ready for training camp and the regular season. Head coach Todd Bowles did not seem concerned either.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He should be fine by training camp,” Bowles said weeks ago.

Now it becomes time to worry.

What’s Next For The Bucs And Tristan Wirfs?

Tristan Wirfs will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list. It’s a very tough loss on several levels, with the biggest being that Wirfs is arguably the best tackle in the league and super important to the Bucs’ success. Wirfs had a good chance of making All-Pro again and would be in the running for the NFL’s first ever protector of the year award.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s also a difficult blow to the Bucs as they have new depth at backup tackle. Previously, Justin Skule was the player that would come in to replace Wirfs or Luke Goedeke when they were injured, but Skule signed with the Vikings this offseason.

Tampa Bay did sign offensive tackle Charlie Heck, who played for the Texans, Cardinals and 49ers in his career, including stops with Arizona and San Francisco last year. Presumably he will fill in for Wirfs as he recovers.

There’s no question it’s a big loss for the Bucs not having their best offensive lineman for the start of the regular season, but it also doesn’t mean that the season is over. Tristan Wirfs will be back eventually and the Bucs are too talented of a team to let one setback dictate how everything will go.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This is the second starting player that Bucs fans will be patiently waiting for to return back along with wide receiver Chris Godiwn. Hopefully, this is just a little adversity for the team at the beginning of the year that will even out when they look to make a run in the postseason.