The Bucs have a good news-bad news situation when it comes to their offensive tackles ahead of Sunday’s game in Arizona. The good news is that right tackle Tristan Wirfs will most likely be available to play for the first time since injuring his ankle in overtime of the Browns game three weeks ago. The bad news is that they’ll be without starting left tackle Donovan Smith due to a foot injury.

This puts Tampa Bay in a precarious position. Everyone will obviously be thrilled that Wirfs, who was just named to his second career Pro Bowl, is back in the lineup. He’s not just the best tackle on the Bucs, he’s arguably the best tackle in football. But what do they do on the left side of the line?

Bucs OT Brandon Walton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When Wirfs was out, Josh Wells stepped in at right tackle and performed better than most expected. Asking him to just immediately switch over to the other side isn’t as easy as it sounds. When Smith missed three plays last week, Brandon Walton came in. It was also Walton who started for Smith when he was out for Weeks 2 and 3, but that was because Wells also got injured in Week 2 that kept him sidelined.

Walton was solid against the Saints in Week 2, but didn’t look as good the next week when the Bucs lost to the Packers.

Bowles Makes A Decision On Bucs’ Starting LT

So, where does that leave the Bucs? Bowles answered that on Friday, saying that Wells is going to get the nod, but both players practiced there this week in anticipation for it.

“We’ve been working him over there,” Bowles said of Wells. “We’ve been working Walton there as well, just to be prepared.”

Bucs RG Shaq Mason, RG Tristan Wirfs and LT Josh Wells – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Wells is an eight-year veteran, having played his last four seasons with the Bucs. He’s played in 10 games this season, starting six of them with four games as the starting tackle. The other two came in his other role in the Bucs’ offense as a swing tackle.

He’s played at least one snap in every game he’s been available for, lining up as an extra blocker for the line. His ability to line up comfortably on each side really helps out the Bucs in this situation.

“He’s definitely shown his value right there,” Bowles said. “That’s what the swing tackle does. You don’t want to see that much of it, but he’s stepped in and done a great job of it.”

Tampa Bay travels to Arizona this weekend for their Christmas night game. It’s a huge opportunity for the Bucs to maintain their lead over the Panthers, Saints and Falcons in the NFC South, especially with the Panthers playing against a tough opponent in the resurgent Detroit Lions.

Smith hasn’t missed many games in his career, but the Bucs will be relying on Wells to pick up right where he left off as a backup getting a start. This time, it’s just going from the right side to the left side.