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Buccaneers will be without All-Pro Tristan Wirfs vs. Falcons in 2025 season opener

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Alex Lord | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 11:47 AM ET

The Falcons will draw the Buccaneers in Atlanta to begin the much-anticipated 2025 campaign, and their division rivals will be without arguably their best player in All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who, according to Rick Stroud, underwent surgery on his right knee.

The Bucs will start the season without All Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday and will likely miss at least the first couple games of the regular season. Wirfs aggravated a right knee injury in the offseaon that forced him to miss only…

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 9, 2025

Wirfs is among the best blindside protectors in the game, and it’s a tremendous loss for the Bucs. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last four seasons and an All-Pro in three of those. Baker Mayfield’s success in Tampa Bay is in large part due to the protection he’s been afforded.

The Falcons, on the other hand, are going to be breaking in a completely new pass rush. Atlanta brought in Morgan Fox, Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker, and James Pearce Jr. this offseason, all of whom are expected to be among the defense’s sack leaders.

Without Wirfs, the Falcons will have a much better chance of hitting the ground running in this regard. That also goes for the guys they’re bringing back too, like Arnold Ebiketie, Zach Harrison, and Bralen Trice.

Getting to Week 1 healthy is the goal for the Falcons now.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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