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Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff WriterNov 10, 2024, 02:53 PM ET
- Jenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the team since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN.
TAMPA, Fla. — The Buccaneers believe that All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs suffered a sprained MCL in the first half of Tampa Bay’s 23-20 loss to the 49ers, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The team captain and three-time Pro Bowl selection will require additional testing, including an MRI, to determine the severity of the injury, the source said.
Wirfs suffered the injury on a third-and-7 play with 5:06 to go in the second quarter. He was lining up against Nick Bosa while pass blocking when the injury occurred.
Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs has to be helped off the field after he sustained a knee injury in the first half Sunday. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
He was replaced by former 49ers offensive tackle Justin Skule, who played for San Francisco from 2019 to 2021. Skule started four games this season at right tackle when Luke Goedeke was sidelined with a concussion.
“Losing Tristan, it sucks,” center Graham Barton said. “We’re all really close. To have a guy like that, he’s such a vital part of not only our football team but our identity and our chemistry and culture. It’s not easy to see that happen. So, we’ve just got to rally around the guys that we’ve got. And we’ve got to go out there and play just as hard as we would no matter what.
“I’ve got full confidence in Justin. He played his butt off when he came in today, so we’re excited to get the opportunity to work with the cards we’re dealt. We’ve just got to pray for Tristan at this point. Hope it’s a good result and just sort of root for him in his recovery.”
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Skule said he benefitted from being in the same Niners draft class with Bosa and going against him in practice each day for three years.
“It’s awful,” Skule said of losing Wirfs, to whom he is particularly close. “You never want to see that for anyone, but for a guy like that, playing at an elite level like he always is, it’s tough. But it’s one of those things where in the game, you can’t really think about it. Now is really the time you sit back and check on him and see if he’s OK and be there for him.”
The Buccaneers are already without Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin, who previously suffered a dislocated left ankle and is out for the season. Wide receiver Mike Evans has been out for three games with a hamstring strain, but the hope is he can return after the Buccaneers’ Week 11 bye.
