Rondé Barber: August Return Of Tristan Wirfs “Determined By By Him”
July 17th, 2025
Legendary Bucs cornerback Rondé Barber loves calling himself a true Bucs insider.
It’s accurate. He not only works for official team media, he spends time with players and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
So Joe feels obligated to be hypersensitive to everything Barber says, and Barber seems to enjoy sharing information that perhaps he shouldn’t.
Barber was back on his WFLA-TV streaming show today that appears to be underwritten by the Buccaneers. Joe’s basing that on the sponsors and the partnership between WFLA and the team.
This morning, Barber strongly implied that the return of Tristan Wirfs could be prior to the regular season and might be a decision made largely by Wirfs.
“If he’s able to get back before training camp’s over, that’s determined by him,” Barber said of Wirfs.
Like nearly every Bucs-loving human, Barber is troubled by the potential loss of Wirfs for four games after knee surgery this month.
“I don’t know that there’s a bigger loss to this offense that you could have than your starting left tackle,” Barber said. “I mean, obviously, maybe your quarterback. But in terms of position players, there’s nobody better.”
Joe agrees that Wirfs is a deserving All-Pro at left tackle. But as Baker Mayfield says, as does the film, the offense runs through Mike Evans.
Take No. 13 off the field and the entire complexion of the offense changes and so would a defense’s approach. The Bucs can survive for a stretch without Wirfs. Without Evans? Joe wouldn’t wager a nickel on that.
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