Following a stunning Week 6 win against the New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have failed to register a single victory. The Buccaneers failed to overturn their fortunes in their recent outing against the San Francisco 49ers, extending their losing streak to four NFL games. Aside from the crushing defeat, Tampa Bay suffered another blow in the said game after offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was taken off the field due to an injury. But what actually happened to the young sportsman?
Here are all the details regarding Wirfs’ latest ailment, including his estimated return.
How did Tristan Wirfs get injured?
Tristan Wirfs sustained a knee injury in his side’s recent 20-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The unfortunate incident occurred in the dying moments of the first half when Wirfs was stationed in pass protection. Upon witnessing the 49ers’ Ben Bredeson attempt to set up his teammate Jordan Elliott, the 25-year-old NFL star took it upon himself to intervene. However, Tristan Wirfs collided with Elliott in the process, ultimately resulting in a knee injury.
Tristan Wirfs has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Due to his feeble condition, he was taken off the field, and Justin Skule replaced him on the field.
When will Tristan Wirfs return to play for Buccaneers?
At the time of writing, the intensity of Tristan Wirfs’ injury remains uncertain. However, the athlete is scheduled to undergo an MRI, which should give fans a clearer picture of his condition.
While Wirfs is currently expected to be sidelined for several upcoming fixtures, Baker Mayfield has expressed much faith in his teammate’s recovery. “Sometimes, that’s the way the season goes,” the quarterback said. “Hopefully, Tristian is not (a) serious (injury). I just saw him, and it looked like he was in a positive mindset at least. So, that’s good. That’s a positive.” (Tampa Bay Times)
Depending on their severity, MCL injuries typically have various recovery spans. While minor MCL setbacks usually take 1-3 weeks to heal, major injuries can keep the player out of action for 6 weeks or more.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are scheduled to face the New York Giants in their next NFL fixture of the season.