Buccaneers OT Tristan Wirfs leaves playoff game vs. Eagles with ankle injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers right tackle Tristan Wirfs limped to the locker room early in the first quarter of a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles and was initially ruled questionable to return due to an ankle injury.

Wirfs, 22, was a first-round pick in 2020 and earned First-Team All-Pro honors for his work to protect Tom Brady in 2021. No team allowed fewer sacks than Tampa Bay (23) in the regular season, and Wirfs is arguably the best player on the team's offensive line with just three sacks allowed in his career.

The Buccaneers were already dealing with some key injuries heading into the postseason with Leonard Fournette, Chris Godwin and Richard Sherman all on injured reserve. The team also parted with Antonio Brown and has pass-rushers Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett playing through knee problems.

Still, the limited Tampa Bay offense had no problem moving the length of the field on a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to start the game against the Eagles, even after losing Wirfs.

Wirfs was replaced in the game by veteran Josh Wells, who has started eight games over his last three seasons with the Buccaneers.

Wirfs would return to the game when there was about three minutes left in the second quarter, but he was walking with a noticeable limp. The Bucs went three-and-out, and the All-Pro hobbled off the field.