section: Bucs

TAMPA — The Bucs will start the season without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs, who underwent knee surgery Tuesday and likely will miss at least the first couple of games of the regular season.

Wirfs aggravated a right knee injury that forced him to miss one game last season.

The Bucs scheduled arthroscopic surgery Tuesday, and some additional minor damage was found.

Wirfs likely will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list. If that happens, he will have to miss a minimum of four games.

It’s a blow for the Bucs.

Wirfs protects the blind side of quarterback Baker Mayfield, one of his closest friends on the team. With Wirfs in the lineup, Mayfield was pressured 23.2% of the time, the fourth lowest rate in the NFL.

The Bucs signed former 49ers swing tackle Charlie Heck in free agency. He is likely to replace Wirfs to start the season.

The Bucs lost swing tackle Justin Skule, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Vikings during free agency. Minnesota left tackle Christian Darrisaw is expected to miss the first four games of the season, creating an opportunity for Skule.

Skule started five games last season for the Bucs, including four at right tackle when starter Luke Goedeke was out with a concussion.

Wirfs, 26, was the team’s first-round pick (13th overall) out of Iowa in 2020 and immediately helped the Bucs and Tom Brady win Super Bowl 55.

Wirfs was selected for four consecutive Pro Bowls and was named first team All-Pro at both right tackle (2021) and left tackle (2024).

Wirfs was limited at last month’s mandatory minicamp and wore a brace on his right knee.

“It’s precautionary. It’s the offseason,” head coach Todd Bowles said then. ”He’ll be fine in training camp.”

But Wirfs’ knee didn’t improve, and he underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday. During the procedure, some more damage was detected and repaired.

Instead of missing all of training camp and the preseason, Wirfs now won’t be available for games Sept. 7 at Atlanta and Sept. 15 at Houston to start the season — if not more.

The Bucs were swept by the Falcons last season and needed a win over the Saints in the final game of the regular season to clinch a fourth straight NFC South title.

Wirfs was spectacular last season. He did not allow sack and permitted only one quarterback hit over 1,014 snaps in pass protection. His pressure allowed rate of 1.9% on pass plays was the lowest among offensive tackles.

The Bucs signed Heck to be their swing tackle, not expecting him to have to replace Wirfs for at least the first two games. They also gave undrafted free agent Benjamin Chukwuma a league-high $55,000 signing bonus, and he may factor into the equation.

With Mayfield at the helm, the Bucs started each of the past two seasons with a 3-1 record. Without Wirfs, that might be hard to duplicate.

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