Tristan Wirfs Is Out Sunday For Miami Game
December 26th, 2025
Out.
It seems to be getting darker all the time.
Bucs All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs will not play Sunday against Miami in a game critical to keeping the Bucs’ postseason hopes alive.
That’s the word from Bucs coach Todd Bowles today. Also, Bowles said outside linebacker Anthony Nelson (knee) will be out and defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, who is in the 21-day window to return from injured reserve, will not be activated.
Wirfs has a bum toe. In his place, rookie tackle Ben Chukwuma is expected to start. He made his first career start three weeks ago against New Orleans and help up rather well.
December 26th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
We had our win streak early on without Wirfs.
December 26th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
I like Ben. He’ll be fine.
December 26th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Two tight ends, help protect the QB, and throw the ball 35 of the first 45 snaps and we win going away. Hurry and get well Tristan, we need you.
December 26th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Why are NFC South teams so consistently bad. We play barely .500 ball yet win the division, year after year. Is it bad drafting of players, bad coaching or both?
December 26th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Chukwuma’s gonna be a stud when he gets more playing time. This will be good for him.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Looking forward to seeing Chuk again. I think he’ll eventually replace Wirfs.
On a side note, every gameday since the bye week I’ve said, “Maybe this will be the game that gets Bowles canned.” Maybe this is the one. I can’t look forward to next year knowing the same mediocrity will be on full display.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
There is some very wrong at one buc
December 26th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Chuky did fine last time,
He’ll be a starter somewhere on the OL next year
December 26th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
7-10 is coming.
The research department is already setting up interviews.
Chef Bowles cooked 2025 for us. That’s right is well done according to chef Bowles. SMH
December 26th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Bucs better win in Miami. And, I wouldn’t pencil in a Seattle win in Carolina tomorrow.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Meant Sunday
December 26th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
SB~LV Says:
Chuky did fine last time,
He’ll be a starter somewhere on the OL next year
———————————————————————–
I look forward to seeing more of him, but hope Wirfs is OK to play by the
playoffs (if we should make it there) 😉
December 26th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
It could get pretty ugly Sunday. Not in a good way. Would a Dolphins blow out get Bowles fired that day….
December 26th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
doesn’t matter
chalk up L #4 and then #5 in a row and call it a wrap on the year
full reboot in 2026
December 26th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
Watched raise the flags , glazers made a statement while bringing in new coaches by saying its their obligation to the fans to have a winning team. Bowles’ record is inflated due to a terrible division. He also calls the shots for the defense which has been trash. Now the latest skid out of the playoffs has lost the locker room and the fan base. Retaining him will make next year a failure even before it starts.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
This team is fundamentally flawed everywhere. It starts in the training room. These guys all need to be canned every single trainer coach every last one
December 26th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
Dolphins 28 – 20!
December 26th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
Wirfs just plagued with injuries this year huh? Hope this doesn’t become a long-term issue with him, or that contract will become almost as bad as Winfield’s…
December 26th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
@Ufc – our training / medical staff has been subpar for years, if not decades at this point.
Ever notice how most other teams just appear so much more physical and imposing compared to the Bucs? Almost all our guys (besides Vea, Wirfs, etc.) just look skinny and small on the field. It’s no wonder we get pushed around.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Quick lose this sunday and lets thunk about the new coach and the draft.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Rub some “Tussion” on that toe or cut it off . Let’s Go !
December 26th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Fish are in tank. Draft
December 26th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Can’t get any darker when the team is blind.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
unbelievable
How much is that on Licht, and the “ superior athletes “ he drafts?
Winfield is short, SVD is small, Kancey is undersized, etc etc.
December 26th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
At least we are set at OT for a while. We need that LB from Georgia or Ohio State
December 26th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
@jmark – Oh it’s def on Licht as well, though he’s not drafting anyone the HC doesn’t want on the team. We know that Todd Bowles loves fast, undersized players on defense (besides tall corners).
It’s worked out spectacularly, huh?
December 26th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Fish have nothing to lose. Watch out for cheap shots.
December 26th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
INTERESTING THIS ISN’T DISCUSSED MORE
If the Bucs lose and Carolina wins the season is over. This Sunday could be it.
December 26th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Been a forgettable season for Wirfs
December 26th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
UGotRobbed Says:
December 26th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
Dolphins 28 – 20!
——-
So another game where Baker can’t score more than 20 points? Sounds about right unless he snaps out of this prolonged 2+ month funk.
December 26th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Our line is checked out, Chukwuma made some bad mistakes versus the Saints but was otherwise not bad
December 26th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb is 1.5 sacks away from a $900,000 incentive bonus. He’s already pocketed over 1 million for his 6 sacks. Sunday might be a rough day for Baker!
December 26th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Can’t believe I read someone say Chukwuma si replace Wirfs eventually.. lol Wirfs isn’t going no where she’s our best tackle. He’ll probably replace Luke G.
December 26th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
The Miami game is meaningless unless the Panthers somehow defeat the Seahawks. Rest the players so they will be full strength for the Panthers game the following week.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
4 wide and start slinging it ,,, build momentum!!! Dolphins have nothing to gain and Bucs got everything to lose
December 26th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Mhystc Says:
December 26th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Can’t believe I read someone say Chukwuma si replace Wirfs eventually..
———-
Yeah, the hype on Chewbacca based on very few snaps, and then the hate on Wirfs, it’s just really stupid.
Chewy might end up being a good player, but Wirfs is 26 and literally the best offensive lineman in the NFL, and these dopes act like he’s washed up. Very very low IQ individuals.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
I swear the majority of so-called Bucs ‘fans’ are rooting for the team to lose and not make the playoffs because they’re so stupid they think whatever is behind door 2 is going to be fantastic compared to now. It’s almost like these morons haven’t been Bucs fans for long, since any long-time Bucs fan knows what is about to happen once the Bucs start their overdue rebuild, and that’s many many many years of losing and not even being mentioned as being in the playoff picture.
You dummies shouldn’t be so eager to move on. This isn’t Dirk to Arians, where he’s being given a young talent loaded team with a bunch of future HOFers, this is going to be Gruden to Morris – an older team that goes 500, might sneak into the playoffs, then falls off a cliff when they do a rebuild and don’t sniff the playoffs for decade (well outside of 2010).
December 26th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Wirfs is the best OL in team history already. And the idiot that keeps saying move him to G should just watch soccer.
The depressing slow decline of this team is an illusion. The first few games, breaks went their way. Now they are not. So the team was not good from the start.
I was fooled. You were fooled. Licht fooled himself. Bowles is just not capable of motivating these guys.
So thy need to debride the wound, clear out the detritus and infection and necrotic tissue — mostly on Defense and the ones are well known because they are on tape. As for the coaches, all of them need to go.
2026 may be rough with a new regime. But it may not. Some guys can deliver immediately. I never thought that much of Coen. Just did not see him in front of microphone. But he has delivered. So has Vrabel.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:18 pm
I hope I’m wrong. I hope the switch is flicked, and they beat Miami and Carolina and win two playoff games.
But what have they shown to suggest they could go on a 3-4 game winning streak?
December 26th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
I think Wirfs is gonna pull a Marpet. Smart guy who’s tired of abusing his body.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
I’m diehard Buc!! I Hate this season SO FAR? but I think us fans have become a tad greedy!!! Try being a Lion, Cowboy, Chiefs, Raven diehard fan! They are not happy. Us as fans should root them on regardless of our great coach. Go Bucs
December 26th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Teacher Man is the one hyping up Chuck. He gets his dream scenario against Miami. Well, minus our All pro left tackle playing left guard, haha.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
ModHairKen. “But what have they done to suggest they could go on a 3-4 game winning streak”? How about the fact we’ve beaten the current 1 and 2 seeds already this year in the NFC? And the hottest team in the AFC going into the playoffs? Houston and Buffalo. We’ve beaten Houston and the only reason we only scored 32 against Buffalo is because we gave away 2 extra points. New England looks pretty good too. Didn’t we throw 3 td passes against them with ZERO turnovers? ModHairKen, surely you feel like a doofus asking dumb questions like that.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Yes please throw the damn ball Tampa! Go Bucs!
December 26th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Big Ben LFG!
December 26th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Enough with the fascist ICE ads
December 26th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
If it is one of those turf toe things, he may not be back for whatever is left of this season. Wirfs is as good as they get, saw him hustle several yards downfield last Sunday to pick off a second or third level defender. Dude is a Mountain with legs. Change is a coming next season, no matter what happens the rest of this year. I can’t see the Bucs allowing Todd to continue as the DC, and he might not want to continue as HC, if he is relieved of DC duties.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Bill in Seminole, the NFC South hasn’t always been bad. When the realignment took place, all the talking heads said the NFC South was the weakest division. The NFC South had a representative in the NFC Championship game and Super Bowl for the next few years. All divisions go through this type of ebb and flow.
December 26th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Kenton
Going a little heavy on the Christmas libations?
December 26th, 2025 at 4:03 pm
More ICE ads pleaser
December 26th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Fire Todd
December 26th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
There are 4 divisions in the NFC. The last three years( correlating with Mayfields arrival) we have played, nfc north 4 games in 2023, nfc east 4 games in 2024, nfc west 4 games in 2025. 9-3 against the rest of our conference. We are killing them. 9 wins-Vikings, Bears, Packers, Commanders, Eagles, Giants, Seahawks, Forty Niners, Cardinals. Our 3 losses were Lions, Cowboys, and Rams. Put simply, Baker Mayfield is one bad son of a Bltch.
December 26th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Trade Wirfs while his value is it’s highest, same with Vea, and Winfield. Start the rebuild. Bringing it back again hasn’t worked, need a new direction.
December 26th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
The Bucs were playing good football earlier on with their backups
Bucs 27 Miami 17
Next week
Bucs 28 Carolina 24
Bucs win a playoff game
All is well at One Buc Place once again
December 26th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Put Wirfs on IR and save him for Klint Kubiak. Don’t let Bowles destroy another Buc’s great. See Godwin as a prime example.
December 26th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
@Rod Munch…you saved me my long-winded speech. Well said. Thanks.
December 26th, 2025 at 5:06 pm
This is very bad news as we need to win this game. I was hoping they could try Chuk at ine of the horrific guard positions, but that’s off the table now. MUST WIN this game. Need for building momentum for next week and to prevent against Seattle somehow not beating the Panthers.
December 26th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Jmarkbuc. Tradition is important at my house. Cheers! Prost!
December 26th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
I’m not a Todd Bowles fan,
But l think it’s ridiculous for fans to be looking into the future for the next HC
Especially when we’re still in playoff contention
At least wait until we’re out of contention
December 26th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
So- called fans are hoping the Bucs miss the playoffs
So the HC get fired
Wouldn’t it be satisfying if the Bucs miss the playoffs
And Bowles come back next season as HC
December 26th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
I will never cheer to lose any game.
Go Bucs!
December 26th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
Wirfs soft AF
December 26th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
Now Joe Bucs Fans is reduced to commenters commenting on ICE Commercials?
I see babes on Ebay…. I see a Low T commercial … I see a Saks ad for clothers
As for the Bucs Aye Carumba Sunday can’t come fast enough… I hope the fish win, so it expedites the departure of all the Coaches here at One Buc Plsce
Then hire Jon Gurden lol
December 26th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Best O Lineman and best pass rusher out.
Don’t bother getting your hopes up.
And yeah, Nelson is our best pass rusher. For some unexplainable reason, he is our sent out on pass coverage instead of rushing the QB.
The Team pushes YaYa as our pass rusher, but hopefully by now everyone realizes that this teams absolutely nothing about Pass rushers
December 26th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
Rest up, Big Fella. Next year is going to matter a lot more than these final two games.
December 26th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
Do or die game with playoffs on the line and your supposed best O Lineman and Pro Bowler sits out with turf toe. Soft as F. Of course, our “fans” are ok with that.
December 26th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Felling even better about having Miami +6.
December 26th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
“Go Bucs! Says:
December 26th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Enough with the fascist ICE ads” ————–> Scoreboard. 🤣
December 26th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Miami is not going to tank!
December 26th, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Tampa bay 4. Miami 21…..Coach Bowels rewarded with a 10 year contract for keeping the game close,until Baker threw 3 INTS in the 4th quarter and was immediately traded to THE RAIDERS.
December 26th, 2025 at 8:30 pm
ModHairKen Says:
But what have they shown to suggest they could go on a 3-4 game winning streak?
———–
For all the crybaby whining stuff about Bowles, if Baker doesn’t play like complete trash the last three games the Bucs are on a 4-game win streak right now, and that would likely be a 6-game win streak heading into the playoffs. That’s why there is hope.
An inconsistent player like Baker can suddenly heat up out of nowhere, and frankly, they don’t even need him hot, they just need him to stop screwing up and losing games. If he’s just merely an average QB these next two weeks the Bucs should win both games pretty easily – and if he gets hot, then the Bucs could even win in the playoffs. It’s all down to Baker and if he flips the switch or not.
December 26th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Lakeland Says:
December 26th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
So- called fans are hoping the Bucs miss the playoffs
So the HC get fired
Wouldn’t it be satisfying if the Bucs miss the playoffs
And Bowles come back next season as HC
———-
Yeah, I keep bringing that up. With an older team, Baker on a one-year guaranteed deal, who are the Bucs recruiting to come in? If Bowles is going to get fired, it’s because Baker lead a massive losing streak to close out the year. Regardless of if people like Baker or not, there’s not many hot candidates out there that want to be dealt that hand, they want either QB certainty or a blank slate, and Baker offers neither. I think the Glazers would see the same thing, see all the injuries, a rookie OC, etc – and say bring back Bowles for one more try before cleaning house with a full rebuild if it still doesn’t work. I’ve said I’d probably do that, but would force Bowles to hire a DC to call plays – someone from outside the building. Also I’d force Grizz to watch film of Coen calling plays like in Clockwork Orange.
But I’m not eager to just move on. I swear people have no idea what they’re in for, and they will be the dumbest and loudest idiots calling for the new coach to be fired next year when the rebuild is underway and the team is 4-11 right now.
December 26th, 2025 at 10:04 pm
Todd is not a good head coach, replacing him is risk but keeping him is idiotic, with Todd you get sustained mediocrity. No potential upside. Same year over and over. 7-10 or 10-7 or somewhere in between. Never close to winning a Super Bowl or a second playoff game. Welcome to frustration forever.
December 26th, 2025 at 11:39 pm
yeah i have a sore pinky…i guess i can’t pick up the remote and turn the tv on sunday at 1 pm…
the pinky hurts something awful…
oucheroonies !
December 26th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
yeah, something is very off at one buc place
December 27th, 2025 at 12:08 am
Why do we always hear about these phantom injuries a day or two away from the game, wtf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 27th, 2025 at 1:04 am
maybe word is miami is tanking the game…
so big wirfsy is saying bad footsie…
sheesh…jpp will be out there tomorrow at 47 years old, and half a working hand…
things have gotten weirder at one buc every day since the detroit game…
and in preseason when i gave my predictions, i said forget the detroit game – wave the white flag – don’t even take the damn trip over there…go figure…….
now here we are with an entire franchise and fanbase in a rubber room, bouncing off the walls, and screaming for more pills
December 27th, 2025 at 6:50 am
I really dislike changing coaching staffs, but sometimes you literally have NO CHOICE. In our case, our defense is in freefall, and has gotten worse every year since 2023. Fixing it starts with replacing the DC (who’s overseen that degradation).
Our offense was supposed to be our strength, but instead had turned out to be a weakness. Installing an extremely inexperienced OC who’s having to learn On-The-Job hasn’t helped, and he needs to be replaced.
Our Special Teams play has been anything but special all year long, and our S/Ts coach hasn’t done much to fix it. Coverage had gotten so bad that we now kick off into the End Zone after each score and let the opposition have it at the 35 yard line. That’s totally unacceptable and our S/Ts coach needs to be replaced.
Based on LACK OF PERFORMANCE, Bucs need 3 new coordinators. And each should obviously be allowed major input into who gets hired for their supporting staffs. Retaining Todd Bowles as our Head Coach but replacing his entire coaching staff is obviously a non-starter, so we’d be talking about a totally new coaching staff. Whether one’s out there that’d be better than what we’ve already got may be debatable by some, but ownership owes it to Bucs’ fans to do an intense search to at least try to figure out our options. Retaining Todd Bowles & the rest of his staff would most likely guarantee a 2026 that’s ‘more of the same’.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:29 am
DR, I think you possess a leadership quality that I’ve never had. I tend to let my emotions get the better of me. I’ve played and watched football my whole life. My kids and grandkids and brothers and dad and uncles – all of us. We’re from Oklahoma for crying out loud. When Lincoln Riley left OU for USC and took Caleb Williams with him and the college game was taken over by NIL (name, image, likeness) money I had had enough. Tampa Bay became my team. I was a young man when Tampa and Seattle joined the league. And Lee Roy was the first pick of the Bucs! Now Baker was a Buc! Simple, and I’ve watched every snap since. I don’t know what happened to the team this year. I don’t think Mayfield being injured is much of the story. Overall injuries didn’t help, but that’s not the primary issue either. Any old fan can see our offense has not got any rythm. That’s coaching. Any old fan can see our defense- and it’s been going on for years- I went to Detroit for the playoff game when Baker threw the late pick when we were down 8 points. Anyone can look back at that game but I clearly remember Detroit must have totaled 150 yards and 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter. And when we scored to make it 31-23 we went for 2!! That’s coaching! So thanks DR for being my counter balance. I’m such an emotional twit that I still love Bowles. I thought he was the coach that was going to bring Mayfield a Super Bowl. Heck, I’m not ready to give up on this season yet. But if we somehow do make the playoffs, I’d like to see Todd and his staff get one more year. If Licht can draft us a DLINE and Linebacker and Walker and Kancey can be the football players I think they are then we oughta have a chance. But you’re probably right DR that if we keep this staff next year will be more of the same. I’m flying to Phoenix Jan. 11 to meet my twin brother from Denver and my buddies from Chicago. We’ll all get there around noon and spend the Sunday watching playoff games. Broncos, Bears, and hopefully the Bucs. Then playing golf in Scottsdale for the week. By then I expect we’ll know whether this team is going to be together next year or if major changes are coming. I may be an emotional mess but I’m already mentally preparing for it. I’m visually imagining standing on the first tee box. Swing Easy. Hit it hard. Yep, long and straight. Life goes on. Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2025 at 9:39 am
Bowles needs to go if for no other reason just to get new strength and conditioning coaches In here, the amount of injuries since he’s been hired is disturbing and being used as an excuse for why is mediocre
December 27th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Kenton … When you fly to Phoenix Jan 11th to watch football, you all need to rent a car & drive to Sedona. It’s magical; some of the most gorgeous country I’ve ever spent time in. Spectacular scenery and some awesome hiking.
December 27th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Kenton … By the way, I still Todd Bowles too … but I really dislike losing. And I especially dislike getting worse & worse as you lose. THAT’S NOT LEADERSHIP.
December 27th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Defense Rules, of course we’ll be renting a Chrysler van when we get there but with all the hiking up and down the elevations of the courses we’ll probably be looking for low impact recreation for our evenings. And we’ll be using golf carts. It’s enough work just parking the cart and walking up and down to the tee boxes and green complexes. But I’m going to look up Sedona. Early morning tee time on Tuesday, maybe have a little time. Thanks. I really dislike losing too and now I’m beginning to wonder if Baker isn’t a bigger part of this clusterbuck than I’ve realized. And worse and worse hits it on the head. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Dolphins beat us the way we’re playing.
December 27th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
DR, just looked it up. Sedona is just south of Flagstaff. What a beautiful area. Bet I’ve spent the night in Flagstaff 3 or 4 times. 7500 foot elevation and green as it can be. Beautiful forests you’d never picture it’s Arizona. With it being winter and not much daylight won’t be seeing Sedona this trip. Me and the wife driving to Olympia Washington this Spring via Southern California and she just told me we’ll stop in Flagstaff- and go check out Sedona!
December 27th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
kenton:
yes go to sedona if anywhere in range of it…
magical as defense mentioned above…
the red rocks…it’s like God hand designed that place with his own personal details…
it was no happy accident…
i was visually moved from witnessing it…
definitely something to take in for slow digestion
December 27th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
This season just feels like another one derailed by injuries. Last 3 seasons we have had significant injuries to key players. Heck even Brady’s final season, The Jensen injury killed us during that one too
December 27th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Defense Rules Says:
December 27th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Kenton … By the way, I still Todd Bowles too … but I really dislike losing. And I especially dislike getting worse & worse as you lose. THAT’S NOT LEADERSHIP.
————————-
Glad to see you on here, DR. Bucs’ problems started at almost the very beginning of the season. The injury bug hit big time. Major players especially on Offense–out! Add in a guy who has never been an OC doing the job. 4 OCs in 5 seasons. 2 of them doing pretty good at HC. Wonder why? I have waited a long time to see a Bucs O match the talent of the legendary Ds. It should have been this year, but nope. That is not Licht/Bowles’ fault.