Tristan Wirfs has endured another frustrating start to the preseason, but the Buccaneers’ star left tackle is finally back.
For the second consecutive year, Wirfs has dealt with an issue that disrupted his preparation for the season. Last year, knee surgery in July kept him sidelined until Week 4.
This time, a hamstring injury interrupted his training camp before it even officially began. Wirfs suffered the injury during a conditioning drill the day before Tampa Bay’s first training camp practice.
The All-Pro finally returned to full practice this week. After Thursday’s shells-and-shorts practice in Jacksonville, Wirfs believes he is positioned to play in Week 1.
“Yeah, I feel great right now,” Wirfs said via JoeBucsFan. “[It] wasn’t how I was hoping to start camp. That was really frustrating. But very nice to be back out here with the boys. Yeah, I feel good.”
Buccaneers Taking No Chances With Wirfs
Wirfs indicated that Tampa Bay’s cautious approach contributed to his extended absence. The Buccaneers appeared determined to avoid rushing him back and risking another setback.
“I think we’re trying to be smart,” Wirfs said. “A little bit early on in camp I was [thinking] I’ve never really [hurt] a hamstring before. I was like, ‘What is this?’ I [had] a couple of plays [Tuesday], and then kind of just keep doing that moving forward. I think these next two weeks will be big just to get as many reps as I can.”
Those upcoming practices will be particularly important for Wirfs. After missing much of camp, he needs to build back his workload before the regular season arrives.
For now, simply being back on the practice field is a positive development. The Buccaneers will be hoping Wirfs can remain healthy through Week 1 and beyond.
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