With Injuries To Offensive Line, Will Bucs Rush Tristan Wirfs Back?
September 18th, 2025
Patience is a virtue.
Joe admits to being uncomfortable hearing Bucs coach Todd Bowles mention this yesterday.
Yes, the Bucs are going through the worst injury bug, specifically on the offensive line. As Joe is typing this here post, the Bucs are down three starters on the offensive line, as bad as Joe can remember.
Right guard Cody Mauch may be done for the season with knee surgery. Right tackle Luke Goedeke reaggravated his injured foot in the win over the Steers on Monday night. No telling how long he will be out.
And then there is Tristan Wirfs. The All-Pro left tackle had offseason knee surgery and just last week he returned to practice.
Now in the immediate days prior to Week 1, the Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, spoke with Wirfs about his possible return. Wirfs mentioned to Ira that his immediate goal was Week 4 against the Eagles but Wirfs also mentioned to Ira that Week 3 was a goal, too, but likely unrealistic?
Well, will Bowles force Wirfs to get on the field this Sunday with all the injuries? Joe isn’t sure but it seems Bowles, in light of all the injuries, is eager to get Wirfs back.
Bowles was asked if starting the season 2-0 give the Bucs a cushion to push back Wirfs’ season debut so he can better rehab?
That’s not in Bowles’ plans, he said.
“No. When they’re ready to play, we’ll bring them back whether we’re 2-0 or 0-2 or 10-0,” Bowles said. “We just want them back healthy and back when they’re ready. It helps, but it doesn’t by [any] means give us any grace period to have them back or to have them sit a little longer.”
There is no way Joe would risk pushing Wirfs. No sense in Wirfs potentially having a setback because of impatience.
The Bucs need Wirfs to stay in the lineup, The last thing this team needs is for Wirfs to come back too soon and screw up his knee to the point he may be lost for the season.
This is the Jets we’re discussing here, not the Rams or the Eagles.
For Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, I know it feels like the sky is falling, but let's ease off the panic button.
Season is far from over and help, soon enough, is on the way.#WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/Sy9teUwZDc
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) September 18, 2025
September 18th, 2025 at 7:10 am
The one silver lining in Wirfs, and now Luke out is Chukuma most be getting a lot of reps he normally wouldn’t get this time of the year. Could he be ready? For this Sunday unless Wirfs comes back keep from center left the same. Start Klien at RG with Heck at RT? Didn’t like Klien at center this preseason, but he looked solid at guard. He was a RG in college, he should do fine.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Rest in peace Baker…hes gonna be next. The man was almost murdered Monday night
September 18th, 2025 at 7:22 am
This isn’t an injury bug, it’s a damn injury Black Plauge…what year is it, 1350???
September 18th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Is Sua Opeta still out there? Might could use him now.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:35 am
Wirfs must be 100% – cannot lose anyone else. We seen what happened with Luke
September 18th, 2025 at 7:38 am
Joe said: “This is the Jets we’re discussing here, not the Rams or the Eagles.”
That is what worries me. The Bucs always seem to play down to a seemingly inferior opponent. Look at last year against Denver. Yeah, Denver was actually a good team, but were they 19 points better? No! Bowles did not prepare his team and they came out flat and got boat raced. Time to break this week 3 curse but it looks like everything is going against the Bucs as what would usually be an advantage, having a backup QB in, does not apply to Bowles D which often makes back up QBs look like Kurt Warner in 1999. I hope that the injuries do not become an excuse for laying an egg on Sunday.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:40 am
Wirfs will play when Wirfs says he is ready. Buccaneers are this year’s Lions. Best roster but just too beat up.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:42 am
Ok I get not rushing him back. Makes sense. Cornerstone player, you don’t want to re-aggravate anything. But what if Baker goes down due to a blindside hit he might not have taken if Wirfs was in there. Just looking at both sides.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Joe, serious question, could the Bucs make Wirfs active for Sunday but only play him if it looks like it is absolutely necessary in the second half? Is a win on week 3 that important as week 4 has Philly coming to town and week 5 a trip to Seattle? We know the Bucs never play well on the west coast unless it is against the Chargers and if the Bucs do not win this Sunday, they could start their annual losing streak a few weeks early this time.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:47 am
Since I have absolutely no clue into what it takes to recover from the surgery he had, I can’t help but wonder what healing is going to take place in the next 7 days that makes the Jets game too early but the Eagles game is A-OK.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Really think an extra week will magically heal an additional 20%? He’s practicing BECAUSE he just needs to be game ready. He is healthy enough for activities. If Wirfs feels good then that’s his call
September 18th, 2025 at 7:49 am
Don’t rush Wirfs back. The plan all along seemed to be he’ll be back for the Eagles game. Pretty sure the Bucs can scheme around the crappy Jets.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:52 am
I don’t see winning any games until Wirfs or Goedeke back. Now that Mauch gone, we can’t run the ball, and Baker’s time to throw dropped from 3+ down to 2.2 seconds last week. They will just bring up the safeties and suffocate us
September 18th, 2025 at 7:55 am
So we’re looking at either of these lineups basically for week 3:
Wirfs, Bredeson, Barton, Jordan, Heck
Barton, Jordan, Bredeson, Klein, Heck
Yikes.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:02 am
If he is ready play him, unless you want to see Teddy as the QB.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Absolutely do not rush Tristan. He is a cornerstone player, let him heal!
September 18th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Get Chukhwuma some PT-Now
September 18th, 2025 at 8:11 am
I think the Bucs should kick the tires on offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. His 78.0 PFF pass-blocking grade over the past two seasons ranks in the 94th percentile.
The guy just understands the game and my guess is he could be up and running effective guard for the Bucs within 2 weeks.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:15 am
Plus, Scherff played right guard all these years.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Scherff is available? He’s good.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Looks like a low scoring game this weekend
September 18th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Whats more more week. Get his ass out there this is football.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:34 am
geno711 … Kicking the tires on Brandon Scherff sounds like a brilliant idea to me. He became a free agent back in March, never talked to any NFL teams, and has apparently called it a career (33 years old with 10 years in the NFL). Played his first 7 years with Washington, then his last 3 with Jacksonville. A 1st Rnd pick, numerous Pro Bowl & All-Pro years.
Still have to wonder WHY he retired last season. Tired of getting beaten up? Frustrated with playing for the Jags & going nowhere? Talked to Ali Marpet after the 2024 season? Who knows.
Nonetheless, we’re DESPERATE. I’d sure at least give him a call. People do change their mind once in awhile.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:45 am
So much for NOT playing starters in pre-season games. Perhaps a few series would help getting them in football shape. Players can get injured in practice anyway so a few series may help.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:49 am
I would not be surprised if Wirfs plays but on a limited snap count to ease him back in. Maybe just 40 percent of the snap counts.
September 18th, 2025 at 8:53 am
They shouldn’t rush him. It’s not worth the risk of rushing him back too quickly and losing him for the season
September 18th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Ugh.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:08 am
What makes anyone think a 33-year old, banged up O-lineman (Scherff) would be an upgrade over what the Bucs are considering at this point? And, what makes anyone think Scherff is in football shape and wants to come out of retirement?
September 18th, 2025 at 9:12 am
I’m not rushing Wirfs back. He can wait it out, he’s too nice and I don’t wanna see him back on the field until he’s 110% at this point in time.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:12 am
PSL Bob … Nothing makes me ‘think a 33-year old, banged up O-lineman (Scherff) would be an upgrade over what the Bucs are considering at this point?’ Or that he’d even consider it.
But isn’t it worth a measly telephone call and a follow-up physical IF he sounds like he’s interested? Oh & BTW, what made you say that he was ‘banged up’? I didn’t find anything like that anywhere.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Tired of the doom and gloom. Starting O line when Wirfs and Goedeke are both back(2-3 weeks?); Wirfs/Goedeke-Tackles, Brendon/Jordan Guards, Barton-Center. Not much of a drop off.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Jordan is playing well! Just need a back up guard and another swing tackle to get through next two games. Bucs D will dominate Sunday and we’ll still score points.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:17 am
it’s like when Marpet and Jensen vanished out of the blue. was not an easy fix at all.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:21 am
DO NOT RUSH WIRFS BACK!!!!
2TE sets, max protect, screen and play action!!!!
bowles has to get to tyrod early!!!…dont let him get into a rhythm…i say keep 2 safeties over the top to limit big plays and blitz the LBs all game long….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 18th, 2025 at 9:21 am
to me, the question is this. do you move barton and brederson back to their spots to minimize complete breakdowns, or do you keep patching. patching makes leaks less predictable, so i vote for normality. solidify the interior by putting barton and brederson back in their spots.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:22 am
They having a few players in this morning for guard tryouts…
Sua Opeta is one of them….
Also Dan Feeney (currently on Bills practice squad) and Royce Newman (on Packers last year)
If Opeta’s knee has healed more then I hope they grab him.
He was a better guard in summer of 2024 than Bredeson was before the knee injury..
September 18th, 2025 at 9:23 am
It’s Klien’s time to shine. He’s worked hard across the line, even at tackle. He had a whole offseason to get bigger, stronger. Go get it young man. He played RG in college, he knows the line calls, he’s a member of the herd. He’s the next man up.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:24 am
Also I’m thinking maybe this could be the game for Chukwuma at left tackle and move Barton & Bredeson back to their regular positions…
Have Heck still at right tackle with some TE/RB chipping….
Would like to see how the kid does..
September 18th, 2025 at 9:28 am
They should plan on pounding the rock ALL GAME against the Jets!
1st home game. GONNA BE HOT & STEAMY!!!
Add Klein as a jumbo TE to this makeshift O-line and run it down their throats!!
Would minimize the pressure on Baker as well.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Not against v the jets. Wait for a better team.
September 18th, 2025 at 9:42 am
PSL Bob — Do not disagree to some degree with you —
1. Scherff may not want to play.
2. He may fail a physical.
But my thoughts are also:
1. Klein probably not very good — They brought Michael Jordan up instead of Klein for 2 weeks.
2. Scherff like a lot or players may mostly just hate the prep and training camp, etc that is his least favorite part of football.
3. Scherff if he does want to play — appears to still be almost elite in pass protection ability — something I want to protect Baker. Even if Klein is a little more effective as a run blocker — my gosh one blown pass block by Klein could end the season for Baker. Klein was a poor pass protector coming out of college.
BTW if you have info that Scherff is banged up — please share it.
September 18th, 2025 at 10:47 am
If Wirfs plays Sunday, keep Bredesen at Center and switch Barton out to RT. Replace Mauch with Klein. Won’t be a top 5 unit, but it would be good enough to hold off the Jets.
September 18th, 2025 at 11:12 am
3 yards and a cloud of hot humid dust on Sunday…
Use all three RBs and a two minute mode until the Jets surrender.
September 18th, 2025 at 11:36 am
I’d rather not rush him back for a non-NFC game and have him fully ready to go for the Eagles, which is much more consequential of a game for our playoff chances.
September 18th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Agreed Joe. It’s good to be patient but also if he’s 100 percent healthy this Sunday then play him in a few snaps or give him a pitch count but only if he’s ready. I mean by this is he might be healthy but might not be in game shape and ready to play a full one
September 18th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
DO NOT RUSH WIRFS BACK! not worth it, lets do whatever we can to beat the Jets, then play the backups versus the Eagles including Bridgewater then come out strong next game after that with the starters and Baker after he gets a rest(and a loss vs the Eagles).
September 18th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Todd made it clear he would not bring Words back until he was fully ready…. Regardless of opponent.