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Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs warms up before a game against the Atlanta Falcons. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, national pundits react to latest injury news

Originally posted on Tampa Bay Buccaneers on SI
By River Wells | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 12:08 PM ET

The road to victory is never easy in the NFL, but it just got a whole lot harder for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud reported that Buccaneers All-Pro Tristan Wirfs is potentially set to miss at least the first four games of the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after undergoing surgery for a re-aggravated knee injury he suffered against the San Francisco 49ers last year in Week 10. With Wirfs likely missing a couple of games, his duties are currently set to fall to swing tackle Charlie Heck, who the Bucs signed in free agency just this offseason.

Wirfs isn't just Tampa Bay's best player, he's arguably the best left tackle in football, and his loss will be huge for the Bucs. If Wirfs is indeed absent for the first four games, he'll miss contests against the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, New York Jets and the defending Super Bowl Champions in the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bucs will also play the 49ers and the Detroit Lions before their bye week, so Tampa Bay may have to make do without Wirfs against some very stout defensive lines depending on how long he's out for.

Naturally, Bucs fans were devastated at the news, and some NFL pundits weighed in on the consequences of Wirfs' surgery. Here's what Bucs fans and NFL analysts had to say about the unfortunate news:

Are we serious right now. https://t.co/9NJXJNsicj
— Cody Haynes (@codyh33) July 9, 2025

https://t.co/E0CqYyY6Tb pic.twitter.com/hCQQBPZiwc
— • Christie • ❤️ (@AllAboutBucs) July 9, 2025

I hop on Twitter and Bucs fans are saying to sign Donovan Smith man are we cooked https://t.co/kwI0koPBG2
— Slaw (@JakeSlawetsky) July 9, 2025

Whenever a LT of Wirfs’ caliber misses time, the fantasy community doesn’t adjust their expectations enough. https://t.co/wbVzcpOdfG
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) July 9, 2025

Bucs face Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter in Week 2. Not ideal! https://t.co/DdJRGev7wP
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) July 9, 2025

Wirfs? pic.twitter.com/HLD9xmEUeO
— Josh Heishman (@jaheishman) July 9, 2025

Something the Bucs have done so well under Jason Licht is continue to field an effective OL even as they cycle in youth and inexperience. But I can’t think it would have been possible without Tristan anchoring the unit.

Any time he misses is going to strain the entire offense. https://t.co/UU6dKxJqor
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) July 9, 2025

Oh boy…. https://t.co/anJc4ImNyz
— rock riley (@realrockriley) July 9, 2025

Tristan Wirfs news is devastating.
Especially with the best case scenario being that he misses maybe 4 games, and your season opener is divisional against the falcons, then @ Texans on MNF, and Week 4 against the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles. Brutal.
— Ashlie (@EMT_Ashlie) July 9, 2025

https://t.co/2lepqvaOHR pic.twitter.com/FTP7UWyy1L
— aj_turnup (@ATurner_24) July 9, 2025

Should have done this during the offseason earlier. C. Heck…come on down. https://t.co/KpnRNeu6XQ
— Tampa bay sports fan (@indytampafan) July 9, 2025

Massive loss for Bucs. Wish they still had Skule who was good as a 3rd OT last year https://t.co/0wX9vEA4KW
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) July 9, 2025

Not good. Hopefully it is not much more than this, but Wirfs is obviously huge to the Bucs offensive success, and their best player overall. Add in a new play caller and the first few weeks may be rough. https://t.co/ketGJfRpj9
— Austin Sewell (@austin_sewell33) July 9, 2025

https://t.co/dzhs6GcE1W pic.twitter.com/PnDb1NfqTf
— Tony (@LightningFan083) July 9, 2025

The second worst news the Bucs could have this offseason in terms of injury heading into the 2025 season.

Wirfs has been their ironman, missing just four games in his five-year career at one of the most physically demanding positions. https://t.co/mMFf7wcKCS
— Andrew Harbaugh (@MandrewNFL) July 9, 2025

Wirfs is the best player on one of the best lines in the sport. A masssssivvvee loss for however long he's out. https://t.co/q5WDl4XLrm
— Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) July 9, 2025

The Buccaneers will begin training camp on July 23, but they'll have to do so without Wirfs. That will be the first opportunity for the team to acclimate Heck to the offense as Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons draws closer.