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When it was discovered that Bucs beginning left sort out Tristan Wirfs was out for the primary week of coaching camp observe, it nearly felt prefer it was deja vu. In 2025, Wirfs had offseason knee surgical procedure that saved him out for all of coaching camp and the primary three video games of the season. Fortunately this time going into the 2026 season, it’s not as critical.
Wirfs tweaked his hamstring in situation drills a day earlier than camp started and has been out ever since. There’s no timetable for his return as of but in line with head coach Todd Bowles, however in fact Bucs followers held their breath over listening to that the group’s prized All-Professional left sort out was lacking observe.
Bucs OL coach Kevin Carberry and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs Have Nice Depth At OT
Whereas no person needs to see Tristan Wirfs out for coaching camp, this is a chance for others to step up till he can return. The marquee gamers which might be “next man up” are eight-year veteran Justin Skule, who beforehand performed for Tampa Bay after which got here again to the Bucs this yr, and second-year sort out Ben Chukwuma.
Skule gives nice depth and chemistry for Tampa Bay as he already knew many of the offensive line from his earlier keep in Tampa and has 26 profession begins in his profession. However it’s Chukwuma that’s the actual headliner.
Some know Chukwuma’s story by now. He grew up in Nigeria earlier than shifting to the US at 17, after which walked onto Georgia State’s soccer group. He went undrafted and signed to Tampa Bay. At 6-foot-6 Chukwuma has gargantuan dimension and has a uncooked expertise to the sport as he’s unpolished because of his lack of expertise enjoying soccer.
The Bucs checked out Chukwuma as a developmental challenge. A participant they might mould into ultimately changing into a key contributor. However he received thrown into faster than anticipated because of accidents all throughout the offensive line, together with Wirfs and proper sort out Luke Goedeke. He wound up beginning in two video games throughout Week 12 and 16 whereas additionally getting offensive snaps in video games towards Los Angeles, Atlanta and Carolina down the stretch.
Bucs LG Ben Bredeson and LT Ben Chukwuma – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles Praises Ben Chukwuma
Ben Chukwuma held his personal, however there was nonetheless an extended solution to go in his growth. Quick ahead to 2026 and Chukwuma is as soon as once more changing Tristan Wirfs. Justin Skule has been in there, too, and is an effective luxurious to have within the occasion they need an expertise participant in. However Chukwuma has actually caught the eye of head coach Todd Bowles, who sees the significance of all of the snap that Chukwuma has acquired.
“I think the reps for him have been critical,” Bowles stated of Chukwuma. “He made nice strides final yr. He’s received a whole lot of confidence this yr. He’s an excellent soccer participant. He’s assured within the scheme now. He understands the place every thing goes, and it’s only a matter of reps. So, these are nice reps for him with Tristan being down, going up towards Yaya [Diaby] and [Rueben] Bain [Jr.] day-after-day.
Bucs OT Ben Chukwuma – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“He looked very good – night and day from when he came in last year, obviously, because he’s been in the system, or somewhat the system, for a year. His confidence has grown from playing in ball games, so I think this is very valuable for him.”
There’s an opportunity Chukwuma might be a future starter for the Bucs, nonetheless, within the meantime he can present vital depth for the group. It’s fairly tough to seek out good depth on the offensive line place after the starters. Tampa Bay has the advantage of having two, particularly with Chukwuma for hopefully years to come back.
Pewter Report was on the newest Bucs coaching camp observe the place we recapped the complete session on the Pewter Report Podcast. Take a look at the episode beneath and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
