A key player for an NFC South team is set to miss the start of the 2025 NFL season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' superstar tackle Tristan Wirfs will miss all of training camp and the start of the 2025 season after receiving knee surgery, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Wirfs played in 16 games for the Buccaneers in 2024. The All-Pro tackle missed one game due to a knee injury and was scheduled for arthroscopic surgery in the offseason. During the surgery, additional damage was found.
The NFC South isn't much of a tight race, as Tampa Bay is heavily favored to win the division for the fifth season in a row. But an injury to arguably the team's best player can stall the start of the season for the Buccaneers.
The New Orleans Saints still hope to be competitive in the division despite a first-year head coach and a rookie quarterback. While the idea may be farfetched, the Saints have been named a sleeper team for 2025 and could take advantage of what could be a slow start for Tampa Bay.
Wirfs is projected to miss at least the first four games of the season, but with expectations that he is available for both matchups with the Saints. New Orleans and Tampa Bay are set to face off in weeks 8 and 14.
The 2020 first-round pick has been a superstar selection for the Buccaneers and has been their most valuable player since being drafted. Wirfs is a three-time All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl four times in his young career.
Missing their superstar tackle won't be an easy task for Tampa Bay, but a surgery in early July should help the team get Wirfs back early enough in the 2025 season, barring any setbacks. In the meantime, the Saints should look to get ahead of the curve with a hot start to their season.