THE Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been handed a huge blow after it emerged that star left tackle Tristan Wirfs is expected to miss the start of the regular season.
Wirfs, 26, is expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform list.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs is set to miss the start of the NFL season[/caption]
The Super Bowl LV champ is said to have suffered an injury to his knee last season, needing surgery as a result.
The O-lineman was reportedly trying to play through the Bucs’ offseason program with a knee brace.
But ultimately opted to turn to an operation after suffering multiple setbacks.
Wirfs is understood to have undergone arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his right knee.
A two-time All-Pro, Wirfs has been a crucial part of the Buccaneers set-up since he was drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Despite battling through injury last season, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star was selected for his fourth straight Pro Bowl after 16 starts.
Starting the season on the PUP list would mean Wirfs will be out for at least four weeks, missing games against the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wirfs, who is the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL thanks to a five-year $140m extension penned last year, will be a major miss for Todd Bowles’ team.
The Bucs will likely have to turn to backup option Charlie Heck in Wirfs’ absence.
Heck, 28, was signed to the Tampa Bay outfit on a one-year deal on March 13, having played for the Texans, Cardinals and 49ers during his journeyman career to date.
NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
(All times ET)
Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
1pm – New York Giants at Washington Commanders
1pm – Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
