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Back in June, right tackle Luke Goedeke confidently declared that he felt his Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be responsible for the best offensive line “and best offense in the National Football League” this coming season.
That unit has endured a significant blow ahead of the start of training camp.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times revealed on Wednesday that Buccaneers All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday after Wirfs aggravated an injury that caused him to miss one game last season. According to ESPN, Wirfs “likely” will be sidelined for at least Tampa Bay’s first four games of the upcoming campaign while on the physically unable to perform list.
The ESPN story added that Wirfs experienced “multiple setbacks” following the 2024 season. It’s unclear if the 26-year-old will be good to go for Tampa Bay’s Week 5 game at the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 5.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is working with his third offensive coordinator during his third offseason with the organization after Liam Coen left the club to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tampa Bay ultimately promoted Josh Grizzard from pass game coordinator following Coen’s departure, and Grizzard will be a first-time play-caller in September.
Per ESPN stats, Mayfield took the ninth-most sacks in the NFL last season (40, tied with Aaron Rodgers). Kevin Patra of the NFL’s website noted that Wirfs “allowed zero sacks and just 13 QB pressures, per Pro Football Focus, the fewest of any OT in the NFL (minimum 600 snaps)” during the 2024 campaign.
In June, Mayfield acknowledged that “a lot” of his sacks occurred because he held onto the ball too long and because he didn’t simply “throw the ball away” in certain instances.
Stroud mentioned that free-agency signing Charlie Heck “is likely to replace Wirfs to start the season.” In total, Heck appeared in nine games (two starts) while with the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers last season. Needless to say, opposing pass-rushers may target Heck early and often, beginning with Tampa Bay’s Week 1 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7.
As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers seventh among the betting favorites at +1300 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. How Wirfs recovers through the final two months of the summer could determine if Tampa Bay is viewed as a contender or a pretender by Halloween.
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