Tristan Wirfs And The PUP List
July 10th, 2025
Tristan Wirfs.
So Joe decided to see what the ramifications are for Bucs All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs if he begins the regular season on the PUP list.
Basically, the Bucs will have to weigh how Wirfs is doing at the end of next month when the 53-man roster is set. The deadline for the roster cutdown is Aug. 30.
If the Bucs believe Wirfs will need four or five weeks (or more?) from the roster cutdown date to be ready to rock, putting him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list would be smart. Players who are placed on the PUP list must sit out a minimum of four games. Prior to 2020, it was six games.
If the Bucs think Wirfs can get on the field for Week 3 (or sooner) when the Bucs host the Jets in Week 3, then it would be wise not to place Wirfs on the PUP list.
Of course, both Wirfs and the Bucs will know how his rehab is coming along as the roster deadline approaches in late August.
The best case scenario, of course, is Wirfs heals quickly and never has to be placed on the PUP list.
I compiled some Charlie Heck (#75) video from last season. He played a decent amount in the final two games of the year for San Francisco.
You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/B1JQH0WkoF
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) July 9, 2025
July 10th, 2025 at 12:15 am
My prediction is that Tristan Wirfs will heal quickly, and he himself will want to play week one..l but the Bucs will sit him that week and ease him back in a week or two later.
July 10th, 2025 at 12:17 am
That film doesn’t only show Heck. The rest of the line wasn’t great either. That won’t be the case here.
July 10th, 2025 at 12:39 am
Heck looks good as a run blocker, and he should be great when they want to play with a sixth offensive lineman for run looks.
As a pass protector, it looks like they will need to play with six offensive lineman – weak anchor and doesn’t connect well when they try to go around him.
He seems to be a player who performs much better attacking and going forward than he does defending and playing laterally.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:10 am
He’s going to be out till the bye. Can’t take too much of a chance ruining a guy like Wirfs. He’s a once in a decade type of lineman and we want him dominating for another 5+ years. fix it and let it heal, like they should have done and move forward.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:45 am
That Heck film doesn’t look very promising. Better look for another body.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:50 am
I understand he’s not a great athlete, but the guy has to anchor better. He’s getting pushed back too easily. Isn’t jedric Willis a free agent?
July 10th, 2025 at 1:53 am
Barton was a LT.
Mauch was a LT.
I think we need to start training both of these guys as backup left tackles.
I’d rather have a backup center or RG replace Barton or Mauch than a backup LT replace Wirfs.
July 10th, 2025 at 2:27 am
There’s no need to rush Wirfs back. He’s probably better going on IR than PUP. We will be fine, it’s an opportunity for another player.
With that said
We gonna put on our big boy pants and keep it moving
July 10th, 2025 at 3:28 am
Wirfs has a full nine weeks before the start of the season. He only had arthroscopic surgery, that should only take 8 weeks to get back on the field. My guess is Wirfs will be back in September.
July 10th, 2025 at 4:58 am
Did Logan Hall do it?
July 10th, 2025 at 5:08 am
Heck has an overall PFF rating of 41.2 which is about the worst in the NFL. He has trouble with run blocking and is a below average LT. Hope Wirfs heals fast.
July 10th, 2025 at 5:40 am
If I am not mistaken Wirfs played on that knee last year. So I do not think it will be any pain tolerence issue that keeps him out. That means that it will be a (has he healed) type of thing. Rehab should not be an issue either for the workout king of One Buc.
Go Bucs!
July 10th, 2025 at 6:15 am
Teacherman … Agree with training either Mauch or Barton to be a backup LT (my preference is Mauch since we have a couple of backup RTs who could fill in for him while he fills in for Wirfs).
That said however, my bigger preference is to find an experienced LT to serve asa Wirfs’ backup. Still wondering about Donnie Smith. He’s only 32 and it never hurts to kick the tires to see if that puppy can still hunt.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:33 am
We’ve got a guy, Jake Powers, who’s started every game for the University of Texas the last three years at Center. Allowed like 2 sacks in 3 years. Can’t figure out how he wasn’t drafted. SEC competition and dominant. Same size as Barton. We signed him for a quarter million. Cheap. Slide Barton over to Left Tackle. Hope Wirfs is back for the opener but if not we have alot of chances to build an even more experienced offensive line.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:43 am
I have a feeling we’ll be saying “what the Heck”? “ a lot to start the season.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:52 am
How is Klein coming along at center? If he’s ready it would make a shuffle easier.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Well, regarding Heck, one thing is being pushed into a game on a moments notice, and/or a week’s notice spot start, but Heck will have from now until week 1 to get salty with the rest of his line. This is a best-case scenario if we had to play Heck.
It’s remarkable how hard it is to find tackles in the NFL. Why is that when we face a spot starter, and all the headlines are Yaya is about to feast, and he doesn’t do squat or any other lineman for that matter, and somehow we make their backups look like a 5-year starter. Other than the Super Bowl, I can’t remember the last time we just destroyed backup lineman on an opposing team.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:56 am
I just read the draft report on Jake Powers. He had 36.5 vertical. Tops among centers. He has all time Longhorn record with 57 starts! He was a 3 time academic All American! They say he is a pass blocking savant! Said he had 10 year NFL veteran poise and at noisy SEC venues was unflappable. Predicted 3rd round pick with perceived run blocking weakness but said he should be a 10 year NFL center. I don’t know how Jason Licht does it but this kid is definitely the real deal and then some! He very well could be a better center than Barton.
July 10th, 2025 at 7:00 am
Kenton Smith Says: “I just read the draft report on Jake Powers. He had 36.5 vertical. Tops among centers. He has all time Longhorn record with 57 starts!”
Do you mean Jake Majors? If so, yeah he should have been drafted and has a good chance on becoming a backup center this year.
July 10th, 2025 at 7:10 am
Thanks AlabamaBucsFan. I think this Majors kid has Super Powers!
July 10th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Man! That guy (Heck) is getting HANDLED over and Over again.. You shouldn’t have shown me that because NOW I’m Am WORRIED!
Tell me that this is a big “gotcha”, An “on purpose” Joke! Because Heck is one of the WORST left guards I’VE EVER SEEN! He’s Going to get Baker hospitalized… Maybe it was one bad game that I’m watching..
Come On MAN!
July 10th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Hodad Says:
July 10th, 2025 at 3:28 am
Wirfs has a full nine weeks before the start of the season. He only had arthroscopic surgery, that should only take 8 weeks to get back on the field. My guess is Wirfs will be back in September.
My guess is much more pessimistic.
As ESPN suggested “Further tests confirmed that Buccaneers All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs suffered a sprained MCL in the first half of Tampa Bay’s 23-20 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.”
A partial tear with arthroscopy would be about 10 weeks to return to game shape.
If it turns out to be MCL more serious injury — “During the procedure, some more damage was detected” — that statement is concerning to me. An MCL full tear is a 6-month injury back to playing in the NFL
July 10th, 2025 at 7:49 am
Summary Table on MCL’s which usually are treated by rest and is what ESPN reported was his injury in November.
Injury Type Surgery? Return to Full Play Timeline
Partial MCL Tear Usually no 10–12 weeks
Attachment-Site Tear Usually yes 5–6 months
Deep MCL Tear Depends 4–6 months
Lax/Nonfunctional MCL Yes 6–7 months
Medial Capsule/Pes Depends 3–5 months
Cartilage/Bone Bruise Usually yes 6–8 months
July 10th, 2025 at 7:51 am
Watching the film, he has a problem protecting the pass rush. He’ll need help from the tight end and/or running back.
It could be a rough 4 weeks in the beginning. It is what it is!
July 10th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Well if Wirf’s has to have his knee repaired this is about as good of a scenario for the Bucs. We have training camp & all pre- season to find the best back.up LT & it appears we have several choices , so no worries our O-Li Is talented past the starters & the O-Line coaches are some of the best in football.Next man up!!!!
July 10th, 2025 at 9:17 am
This is such a bummer.
I really don’t trust Heck to be the starting LT.
I agree that kicking the tires of Donnie Smith is one option, I also wouldn’t mind giving Mauch or Barton a look at LT during preseason…
No easy answers. I just hope Wirfs can return and play at a high level by week 5.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:26 am
One thing I do know is that the Bucs better get their run game going early and often.
Hopefully we will be able to control the ball, limit the down field throws, mix in some play action passes and play top 5 quality defense until Wirfs returns.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:51 am
Give him the 4 weeks and don’t push him too fast.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Yikes! If I was Baker, I’d push for the team to bring in another veteran or up my life insurance at least.
July 10th, 2025 at 10:11 am
He looks decent as a run blocker but pretty bad in passing protection. He is going to need help over there protecting Baker. Ideally we find someone better.
July 10th, 2025 at 10:30 am
For 6’8″ 330 he sure get pushed backwards a lot.
July 10th, 2025 at 10:48 am
I think Barton is too valuable at center to move him around. It’s only his second year and he seems to be making great progress. I can’t see plugging in a backup center. I think you need stability there, especially since the rest of the line depends on him for blocking calls. A familiar voice and a consistent pattern of calls are important.
July 10th, 2025 at 11:22 am
I was just reading about La’el Collins being healthy and ready to play. He spent his career at left tackle and when healthy he was pretty good. He is older but did not play last year and is at least one of the better guys available who would be a good backup after Wirfs comes back. He would also be cheap.