A No-Worries Injury To Tristan Wirfs

Joe hears fans of various kinds acting like the sky is falling because All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs had knee surgery and might miss a game or two or four to start the season.

Some of these folks are even shaving a game or two off their Bucs’ season-win-total predictions. Relax, people! Joe’s not freaking out.

First, Wirfs missing time has come to be expected. Second, Joe has no reason to believe veteran backup Charlie Heck is a stiff the likes of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. The Bucs have two months to coach up Heck and acclimate him to a great unit — after he attended the Bucs’ spring program and worked with the first team while Wirfs sat out.

Anyone remember journeyman Josh Wells starting four games at tackle (left and right) during the 2021 season, when the Bucs’ offense was legendary?

It happens. Backups play. There’s no rule that says they have to suck.

Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week, Christian Fauria, the 13-year tight end who was one of Tom Brady’s targets for years, talked about the Wirfs injury and sort of scoffed at its signficance to the Bucs.

The real issue, Fauria explained, is when multiple injuries occur on an offensive line. He made the point that a strong offense can handle one starting O-lineman going down but it’s rare for a team to keep rolling with two or three guys down. He also noted the Bucs have plenty of time to practice and plan for Wirfs’ absence, and that Heck is “more than capable” of a decent showing.

Again, Joe is not concerned. But if Cody Mauch’s back stiffens up in training camp and Graham Barton is all of a sudden on the Week 1 injury report with a hamstring tweak, well, yeah, then you might find Joe pacing the aisles of Whole Foods looking for herbal healings.