Getty The 2022 season has not gone the way Tom Brady expected.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro and Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs didn’t consider his leg injury the most painful part of a loss at Cleveland.
Wirfs told ESPN’s Jenna Laine “how badly he felt that the season wasn’t going perfectly for Tom Brady in what could possibly be his last season”. Laine added that Wirfs “wanted nothing more than to give him his proper sendoff”.
“I can tell you — that hurts him more than that leg injury does right now,” Laine added.
Wirfs sustained a foot/ankle injury on Sunday, November 27, and it will keep him out for 3-4 weeks per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Bucs sunk to 5-6 with the loss to the Browns, and things look bleak going forward — even with Brady under center.
Despite how gruesome the injury looked, things looked promisig quickly for Wirfs. After the game, Wirfs walked but limped as he didn’t wear anything for his knee when he left the trainers’ room after the game, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Wirfs also didn’t need assistance getting changed out of his uniform, Stroud added.
“He a warrior. He gonna be all right,” inside linebacker Devin White told reporters on Sunday regarding Wirfs. “Especially when you see him in there. He still got a smile on his face. That tells me all I need to know right there. I’m going to be praying for him, just hoping that it’s nothing severe and hope he can be back with us because we need him. He’s the best in the business right now, and he holds it down on that right side.”
Laine confirmed the same from the Bucs players she talked with — Wirfs kept his trademark smile despite the injury. Laine also noted that Wirfs was “putting some weight on the leg”.
Mike Evans: ‘We Can Prevent Things Like That’
Having to play an extra period, which ultimately led to Wirfs’ injury in overtime, haunts wide receiver Mike Evans. The Bucs had a 17-10 lead until the final 1:16 of regulation and then failed score in 32 seconds with timeouts left.
“That’s the toughest part — losing Tristan,” wide receiver Mike Evans told reporters on Sunday. “I mean, we shouldn’t have been in that situation. I thought that immediately when he went down. I wish I could have played better to help prevent that.”
Bucs Players React to Moment of Wirfs’ Injury
The moment of Owusu-Koramoah crashing onto Wirfs’ leg looked so gruesome that FOX wouldn’t replay what happened during the broadcast.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Bucs running back Rachaad White said via Laine. “I saw that on the sideline and I talked to Ke’Shawn ‘Sneak’ about it. It was like insane. That was crazy. I wouldn’t have expected that either if I was in, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t.”
Here is a slow motion shot of Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah landing on Tristan Wirfs left leg. JOK attempts to leap over Vaughn who inadvertently slams him down on Wirfs leg. He was carted off with an air cast on his leg. Bowles had no update post game.
Vaughn carried the ball on that play when Owusu-Koramoah tried to hurdle him. Vaughn then “inadvertently pushed Owusu-Koramoah into the back of Wirfs’ legs”, Laine wrote.
“It’s tough seeing any one of our brothers out like that, getting carted off — it’s tough to see,” safety Mike Edwards said, per Laine. “Especially a guy like Tristan — one of the best offensive linemen in the league. He’s definitely a big part of our team.”