The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have secured their fifth consecutive division title but are now facing their first significant injury challenge of the 2025 season. Star left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who is the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league, will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee. Although he had been using braces during minicamp last month, head coach Todd Bowles had believed Wirfs was ready for training camp. However, an arthroscopic procedure revealed more extensive damage, leading to expectations that Wirfs will be sidelined for at least the first four games of the regular season.
Before this injury, the Buccaneers’ offensive lineup appeared stable and promising for the upcoming season. Losing Wirfs exposes a pressing vulnerability, especially since the team lost swing tackle Luke Musgrave in free agency to the Vikings. To compensate, Tampa Bay acquired veteran Charlie Heck, a 6-foot-8, 310-pound tackle, who only started two games last season between the Cardinals and 49ers. Heck signed a one-year contract for $1.57 million this spring, but the Bucs might still seek additional competition given the limited NFL experience among their other options.
The first month without Wirfs will be challenging. Tampa Bay opens with an important divisional game in Atlanta, faces a road game against the Texans, and then hosts the Jets and Eagles. Under Bowles, the Bucs have consistently won their season openers and started 3-1 in each of the last two years. Although Wirfs previously tensed his MCL last November and missed games, he had returned strong. This time, the injury seems more serious, and surgery was delayed for four weeks after minicamp as the team assessed his condition.
Before this setback, Tampa Bay was favored to win the NFC South comfortably, with over-under wins at 9.5, far ahead of the Falcons, Panthers, and Saints. The opening game against Atlanta now gains additional significance for tiebreaker opportunities, which last season did not work in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Wirfs, a first-team All-Pro at both right and left tackle and a four-time Pro Bowler, has missed five games in his first five NFL seasons. If his absence is only the first four games or less, he still stands a chance to contend for league honors and the NFL’s Protector of the Year award.
Greg Auman, an NFL reporter for Fox Sports, highlights the impact of this injury on Tampa Bay’s prospects for 2025.
Fan Take: This injury is a significant blow to the Buccaneers and could reshape the competitive landscape of the NFC South early in the season. NFL fans should watch closely, as Tampa Bay’s ability to adapt without one of its premier offensive linemen will test their depth and resilience in what promises to be a tightly contested division race.
