Tampa Bay Buccaneers star left tackle Tristan Wirfs underwent knee surgery earlier this month, which could knock him out for the start of the 2025 season. Coach Todd Bowles, however, isn't ready to concede that Baker Mayfield's blindside protector could miss a chunk of time.
Speaking with Joe Bucs Fan, Bowles opted for optimism regarding Wirfs' availability early in the season.
"That I cannot tell you," Bowles replied when pressed on whether Wirfs might be ready Week 1. "I just know he'll be ready sooner than later. I don't know if it's Week 1, 2, 3. He'll definitely put the work in, so I don't have a problem with that."
With the Bucs reporting for training camp on Tuesday, they could put Wirfs on the active/physically unable to perform list, which would allow them to activate the star at any point during training camp and the preseason. If he's on the reserve/PUP list after final cutdowns, he'd be forced to miss at least the first four weeks.
Initial reports surrounding Wirfs' knee surgery suggested beginning the season on PUP was a likely course of action. Bowles' comments, however, add a layer of optimism that he might be ready before then.
Regardless of how much time Wirfs might miss during the regular season, Bowles believes the NFC South champions are prepared to weather the storm.
"Obviously, there have been talks since the season ended, and for it to heal," Bowles said when asked about whether the injury was mishandled by the club medical staff or player. "And [the medical staff and Wirfs] each other decided to get the surgery done. Sometimes when you let things heal, they don't heal the right way. That's just part of it.
"That's just like going for it on fourth down. Either you get it or you don't. Either it heals or it doesn't and you have to get surgery. But there was great communication throughout and Tristan's in great spirits right now. And if I was a betting man, I'd bet he'd be back sooner than later. All we can do is get the next guys ready. …
"Unfortunately, it's one of our best players. But we've been without Mike (Evans). We've been without Chris (Godwin). We've been without Vita (Vea). We've been without (Calijah) Kancey. We've been without (Antoine) Winfield. We've been without guys and gotten through. We even played without right tackle Luke (Goedeke) last year and we had to have (Justin) Skule, so this will be a situation for (OT Charlie) Heck or someone else to step up at tackle and hold the fort until he gets back."
Heck is expected to win the job standing in for Wirfs until he returns from injury.
