“Bone Injury” For Tristan Wirfs
August 24th, 2025
While Joe has a doctorate in Bucs news, nuggets and nonsense, that higher education does not extend to the medical field.
So Joe was intrigued reading about Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs’ recent chat with John Romano of the behind-a-pay-wall, sold-their-headquarters, can’t-fund-our-pension, debt-strangled, twice-weekly community newspaper known as the Tampa Bay Times.
Wirfs said he’s a maybe to return for Week 3 of the regular season but his recovery timetable after July knee surgery remains a mystery.
“It’s definitely not going to be Week 2,” Wirfs said. “The biggest thing is how I’m progressing over the next few weeks. I still haven’t done anything on the field, I haven’t done a dynamic warmup yet. Because it was a bone injury, it needs time to heal.”
Bone injury?
It sounds like Wirfs cartilage has eroded.
“Wirfs had a bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) procedure that involves using bone marrow injected into damaged cartilage to stimulate natural healing,” Romano wrote.
Wirfs expressed his frustration in a delayed diagnosis as his knee worsened earlier this year and he got conflicting medical advice.
Joe’s starting to wonder how long it will take Wirfs to be ready, and how close Wirfs will get to 100 percent this season.
August 24th, 2025 at 1:06 am
Conflicting medical advice. Dear lord. Don’t tell me a misdiagnosis is gonna cause a major issue for our AllPro LT.
August 24th, 2025 at 1:07 am
wow
August 24th, 2025 at 1:16 am
Tristan Wirfs is going through the exact same thing Carl Nicks went through. This medical staff is notorious for misdiagnosing players. But I think, Wirfs will be ok.
Medical staff is different from the one working on Nicks … trainers, etc. Joe used misdiagnose based on Wirfs’ comments. They’re doctors. They get plenty right, too. Wirfs said he’s confident in them, which he doesn’t have to be.–Joe
August 24th, 2025 at 1:20 am
Dude… This is almost certainly not the same medical staff that worked on
Carl Nicks. And since its not, this is some sort of managerial problem.
August 24th, 2025 at 1:30 am
If someone on the Bucs’ medical staff gave Wirfs conflicting information about his injury, I certainly hope that they have already been fired. This is conjecture of course but it does seem like the Bucs do have more than their fair share of medical issues and perhaps the common thread is the medical staff.
August 24th, 2025 at 1:38 am
.
The Bucs has a history of poor medical staffing
This is similar to what Carl Nicks was going through
It’s not the same staff, but it’s the same team
The same misdiagnosing, and it shows
This team is always higher up in injuries
And the injuries are always more serious than what they originally diagnosed. These are the Bucs
August 24th, 2025 at 1:54 am
Team doctors were not seeing the full extent of the injury because multiple MRIs were not showing what they needed to see. “Rest” was the prescribed treatment for way too long – even though Tristan’s knee was getting worse.
The team finally encouraged Tristan to consult an outside expert (way too late obviously) – and the specialist he went to immediately ordered a CT scan which revealed much more extensive damage than what had been seen or known of previously…..
The surgery fixed what was wrong but takes 3+ months to recover from.
If the Bucs doctors had simply ordered a CT scan 2 months earlier – because the knee was not responding to “rest” – then Whirfs would be healthy by now and ready to play week 1 of the season…
Epic fail by the Buccaneers medical staff. Its too bad Tristan didn’t take it upon himself to get a 2nd opinion early on with this injury…. live and learn I guess…
August 24th, 2025 at 2:13 am
Mrsa flashbacks incoming. Go Bowles!
August 24th, 2025 at 2:17 am
I just don’t want to see him comeback and be 70-80%
August 24th, 2025 at 2:48 am
Interesting read at the link about BMAC. Not sure if it’s the only thing TW has done. ?
Essentially experimental…. Let’s hope it works.
August 24th, 2025 at 3:00 am
This is not good! Any time I hear degenerative I start worrying. That kind of language has ended in many promising careers being cut short. Could this turn into something really bad? I hope not. I doubt there will be any lingering problems but the word degenerative does worry me.
As always Go Bucs.
August 24th, 2025 at 4:45 am
Does not sound good at all. A man his size playing this sport, will likely retire early. Bucs screwed the pooch on this one. This will be Wirfs last contract not just with the Bucs, but football all together. Glad he got a massive contract when he did.
August 24th, 2025 at 4:58 am
Oh Heck. What a way to start the season. Wirfs out and Bloopwater in.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:06 am
“BMAC is still a new and experimental therapy”
August 24th, 2025 at 5:14 am
Thank you for the info, Joe. Appreciated and disappointed.
Agree with Pickgrin. Sadly, it seems to fall on who reads the various images/testing and doctors decisions. Plus, not having the proper imaging testing done. Sometimes I feel they are using medical AI now, and AI is not always correct.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:21 am
This is precisely why you don’t pay one guy 10% of the salary cap. Winfield too.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:22 am
Every time we pay one guy a huge chunk of our cal he gets hurt.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:23 am
140 million dollar asset sitting idle due to incompetence of the medical team. sad.
August 24th, 2025 at 7:03 am
I saw Wirfs at the end of the telecast last night and no doubt he was limping.
Did not appear to me to be someone that is that close to practicing — thus not that close to playing in a game.
August 24th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Let’s assume he is not limping. The TBT article said I still haven’t done anything on the field, I haven’t done a dynamic warmup yet. Because it was a bone injury, it needs time to heal.
I gave AI that it was Tristen Wirfs and the full article:
Some of the things it said:
1. Since his surgery was on July 8, and he hasn’t done a dynamic warmup yet as of August 24, this progression is right on schedule.
2. Resuming Dynamic Warmups and Linear Movement
Projected Timeline: Late August – Early September (Week 7-8 post-op).
3. Introducing Agility and Multi-Directional Drills
Projected Timeline: Mid-to-Late September (Week 9-11 post-op).
4. Integrating into Limited, Non-Contact Practice
Projected Timeline: Late September – Early October (Week 11-12 post-op).
5. Step 4: Progression to Full-Contact Practice and Game Readiness
Projected Timeline: Mid-October (Week 13+ post-op)
AI’s projection is the earliest he may play in a game is October 12th.
August 24th, 2025 at 7:44 am
After the Bye for Wirfs and Godwin
August 24th, 2025 at 7:50 am
Joe please ask why they are being cheap with a player who they have invested so much and means so much to the team. Why wasn’t a CT scan done in the first place by the team? If the answer is because of swelling reinforce the question again and emphasize they should have been scanning with every available technology to make sure our players are getting the correct diagnosis.
C’mon, now. There’s no reason to think anyone was being cheap or didn’t have Wirfs’ best interest at heart. The players have insurance. Hard to believe the Bucs self-fund all medical testing and procedures. Seems like doctors weren’t at their best, Wirfs and those close to him weren’t demanding more opinions sooner, and the end result is missed games. Don’t see it as more sinister. Docs make errors in judgment all the time. Get things right, too. Is it fair to debate whether the Bucs do everything they can ever year to have the best medical staff in the league? Sure. But there’s no information to even have the debate. –Joe
August 24th, 2025 at 7:56 am
geno711 – Going by your AI search, thinking he could come back at the same time as Jalen. Maybe after the bye week, November. However, AI isn’t always correct 😊
August 24th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Wirfs will miss at least half the season.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:19 am
I’d rather Wirfs come back in November and be right instead of coming back in September/October whe he’s better….Take the time and get the guy right!
August 24th, 2025 at 8:21 am
I have nearly run out of things to say about the Bucs weak yet oversized training and medical staff that consistently leads the league in non-contact injuries and is now exposed for a critical mis-diagnosis.
They are neck and neck with Bowles as the team’s greatest liability.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:23 am
So he’s not off the PUP to play…it’s to practice.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:30 am
I’d rather have an 80% Wirfs then a 100% Charlie Heck lol
August 24th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Crazy how many medical experts this website attracts. And A.I. … who can argue with that?
Worse, is people who use the A.I. projection and come up with “half the season” or “after the bye week”.
Maybe there’s a new schedule I don’t know about, but isn’t mid-October week 4 or 5?
You’d think there might be a reason that Wirfs isn’t on the PUP-IR to start the season. Unless the team thinks they really only need less than 53 players on their roster.
Perhaps this website’s “medical experts” (commenters) aren’t all that good at math. It’s tough to be good at everything.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Sounds like early retirement for Wirf. I doubt we see him playing 10 years +.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:45 am
This team should be using stem cells not bone marrow. Theres zero reason to use and do what they did when they have that available.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:58 am
This is not uncommon!!! Several Physicians, some with second and third opinions, look at ALL the available evidence, tests, pics etc. They they calculate all of the considerations. A Multi-Million dollar athlete where their decision could impact his future as well as the Bucs season.
FREQUENTLY in situations even less stressful than multimillion dollar calls, Doctors disagree! This is especially true if a “procedure” is true. Is the Doc aggressive (we then call him “knife happy”) or is he too conservative avoiding the procedure for too long. RESPECTED PHYSICIANS CAN DISAGREE! There is no shame, no diabolical plot, no malfeasance or lack of talent of the Physicians!
IMHO this is best filed under the old Forrest Gump bromide…sh!t happens.
Let’s just keep our fingers crossed on the ultimate outcome because LUCK also will play a role!!
August 24th, 2025 at 9:19 am
AI is really dumb though.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:29 am
stpetebucsfan – Right on and so true. Happens all the time.
Patients really have to be their own advocates too. When the doctors are affiliated with the team you are playing for, it has to be hard though.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:35 am
Anyone check out the Bucs schedule,, it’s front loaded pretty ,, we could see the Bucs at 5-7, 6-6, after 12 games ,, the good news would be all the troops will be back at this point and the last 5 games are pretty easy ,, so 10-7 or 11-6 and a hit team going into the playoffs ,,, hopefully we are at 7-5 or better and the prior scenario doesn’t come into play ,,, another schedule positive is we don’t play the Ravens , we won’t have to worry about sending 5 guys to the IR after that game
August 24th, 2025 at 9:35 am
stpetebucsfan and others I agree. The 1 thing that I don’t understand is that in our lives medical procedures, MRI’s CT’s etc are money driven to an extent and regular peeps have to jump through hoops to get these procedures cause they cost the insurance money. With Wirfs money is no object really so why not get the CT scan soon after the MRI just to back it up and see if they missed anything, but certainly after the knee was still hurting AND the MRI was inconclusive? Sounds like the agent was in Wirf’s ear to get this done, don’t know.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:40 am
Scary thing is didn’t Light say last night Wirf is ahead of Godwin?
August 24th, 2025 at 9:41 am
AI Garbage in garbage out.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:50 am
Sounds like the med staff screwed the pooch on Godwin too. 5 mo th injury turned to 10. Maybe instead of signing players to massive contracts they should invest in some real doctors.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:59 am
Wifs is not going to be after 4 weeks. It is going to be longer I fear. Nope Nope. Welp this season is very much in jeopardy looking ahead. If Wirfs misses over 8 weeks it’s over genrs. Hope Im wrong, Go Bucs!!
August 24th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Ufcguy
Did I miss something?
BMAC contains concentrated doses of stem cells and growth factors, which stimulates tissue growth and repair. Stem cells are cells in their raw form before they specialize to become different types of tissues.
August 24th, 2025 at 10:51 am
It scares me with shades of Ryan Jenson. I hope Wirfs is young enough to heal fully.
August 24th, 2025 at 11:06 am
I’ll say it. We’re fu@@ed.
August 24th, 2025 at 11:16 am
It is not just super big guys like Wirf who are at increased risk for knee arthritis and injuries; it is just about all NFL players.
The results of fractionated plasma protein therapy can vary by individual and by various processing methods leading to generally positive but individually varied results.
But, the demonstrated efficacy of injections of fractionated plasma proteins and the injection of stem cells obtained from bone marrow aspirate is sufficiently positive that just about all NFL players should probably get the treatments at the end of every season and every time they go on injured reserve.
As with concussion injury research and treatment, joint injuries are so pervasive and career threatening in the NFL that there should be a joint injury and treatment research program with data collated by the NFL and shared with the general public, healthcare providers, insurance companies, Medicare/Medicaid and Congress.
Likewise, full body MRI’s post season do not expose players to any radiation and should probably be SOP in the NFL from an economic perspective.
With the newest lowest exposure CT scans, radiation exposure is so small that it probably makes sense economically (if not necessarily medically) to take a high resolution CT scan of any joint injury that causes recurrent missed practices.
Some team will eventually take the lead and reap the advantages for the organization and its players. Go Bucs?
August 24th, 2025 at 11:33 am
The amount of doctors giving advice here is frightening
Joe is right doctors mess up but get stuff right
He’ll be playing by week 4
August 24th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Carl Nicks had MRSA in his toe. Not even close to the same type of injury. Hopefully all you armchair doctors haven’t quit your day jobs…
August 24th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
What a bunch of know it all pussies!!
This is why I rarely read the responses…
August 24th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
Dang this is bad news. This could definitely affect his hall of fame hopes and dreams. I just hope we get to see him on the field when playoff time comes around, when and if we are to make the playoffs. If this is true then why not put him on the PUP list and pick up more options on the line. Seems like losing Skule is turning out to be a bigger deal than they thought (as Joe mentioned on the podcast)
August 24th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
Piss poor management of the injury, I said it originally when he had the procedure done. This should have been addressed in early May after rest failed to work.
It’s a tough situation, l hope he fully recovers.
In the meantime it’s Next Man Up, we have a game in 2 weeks and we will need to give Heck some help until he demonstrates that he’s up to the position.
Go Bucs!!!
August 24th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
Uh, BMAC surgery for cartilage damage/erosion in an elite offensive lineman is not good – and I believe it’s not always successful, long term. That’s could be a career limiting injury. Window just slipped a little.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
A lot of stupid people in here. Had this same exact procedure, it’s improved by leaps and bounds. Some in here saying “OMG he’s going to miss 10 games”, no, he would go on IR designated to return if that was the case, which he isn’t. Knees are tricky. Better to get him right now. Also those blaming the medical staff are clueless and don’t know what they are talking about. He was asymptomatic, sometimes you don’t know what you’re dealing with until you scope it. Everything doesn’t always show up on MRI. And this particular injury doesn’t.
August 24th, 2025 at 10:28 pm
Jason – fire your entire medical staff/. After you find qualified and truly competent replacements of course. This is beyond inept.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:13 am
Honest question as I have never heard the term “Dynamic Warmups.” Can someone explain to me what this is exactly? What is it and how does it differentiate from normal warmup stuff? Thank you.