Buccaneers' All-Pro Right Tackle Injured at Practice
Despite having a roster flush with talent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive line has undergone some serious changes. These changes have resulted from a combination of factors, including free agency (Alex Cappa), retirement (Ali Marpet), and injury (Ryan Jensen).
Each of those aforementioned changes have come along the interior of the offensive line. Up until today, the tackle positions – occupied by Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs – have remained intact. Which, based on the quality and durability of those players, has allowed the Bucs to remain confident in their offensive line group as a whole.
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Unfortunately, it appears as though one of those tackles, and undoubtedly, the most dominant offensive lineman on the team, Tristan Wirfs, sustained an injury during the team's joint practices with the Tennessee Titans today.
Based on the team's depth at other key positions, one could easily make the argument that Tristan Wirfs is the second most important player on this team, next to Tom Brady.
Despite only playing two seasons in the NFL, Wirfs has established himself as one of the premier tackles in all of football. He is incredibly athletic, absurdly strong, and quite refined in his technique. He's been incredibly consistent since entering the league, and these traits don't just stand out because he's young, they stand out because he's elite.
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This is why he was already voted as both an All-Pro and Pro-Bowl player last season.
Any injury to a player of Wirfs' caliber is a major concern. It's all the more concerning for the Buccaneers' because they've already lost Ryan Jensen, the only player who could rival Wirfs in terms of his importance to keeping Tom Brady protected in the pocket.
One positive to take from the early reports on this injury is the fact that it was to the ribs/abdomen area. No injury is 'good news', but I think if this were a lower body, or potentially a non-contact injury, then the alarm bells would be ringing throughout Tampa.
We'll continue to monitor, and update the situation as it relates to Tristan Wirfs' injury. For the sake of him as a player and person – and the Buccaneers as a team – let's hope this injury isn't anything serious.
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