The Buccaneers got a much-needed win over the Cowboys in Week 5, and the biggest relief may have come after the game rather than during it: Tristan Wirfs appears to be fine.
Wirfs left the game with a leg injury and didn’t come back, which naturally had Tampa Bay fans bracing for the worst. But the early postgame word points to something far less serious than it first looked.
Greg Auman reported on X: “Talked to Wirfs in postgame - his knee got rolled up on, put a brace on to help with that, then was dealing with cramps in the same leg,” Greg Auman reported on X. “He'll be OK moving forward.”
That’s a huge sigh of relief for the Buccaneers, especially considering Wirfs had already worked through injuries during preseason preparations before getting healthy enough to play this season. He’s still a veteran presence on the edge, and any scare involving him is going to get attention fast.
The injury news landed after a Tampa Bay performance that had plenty going for it anyway. The Buccaneers won behind Jalon Daniels’ gutsy showing and a run game that kept hammering Dallas throughout the afternoon. Even after losing his star offensive tackle, Daniels held up well from the pocket and helped steady the offense.
Afterward, Daniels was emotional about finally getting that first NFL win. “It is indescribable.
This moment is so big. I'm speechless.
I'm so proud of you. This is amazing,” Daniels said.
Now Tampa Bay gets an extra-long break before Week 6, when it hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
In Other News...
Antonio Brown Just Reignited One Ugly Buccaneers Super Bowl Feud
Antonio Brown has never been one to let a dormant grievance stay buried, and his latest social media post dragged an old Buccaneers flashpoint back into the light. After Bruce Arians recently spoke on a podcast about Browns time in Tampa Bay, including the idea that defenses could take him out of a game and that he sometimes complicated things for himself, Brown responded with a pointed message of his own.
The post came with plenty of the same volatility that has followed Brown since his Buccaneers tenure ended, and it landed while his legal situation remains unresolved as his case tied to a Miami shooting moves forward. For Tampa Bay fans, it was another reminder that one of the most talented, and most combustible, figures from the Super Bowl run can still turn a conversation into a mess in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Bucky Irving Just Gave The Bucs Offense Real Life
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The emergence matters because Tampa Bay has been searching for more dependable balance, and Irvings showing suggested the ground game can be more than a supporting piece. The Bucs now head home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying momentum from a game in which Irvings production helped change the feel of the offense and left even more room to wonder how far that role can grow. [Read more 🡒]
Dak Prescott Left Tampa Facing More Than Just Another Loss
The Cowboys left Tampa with another loss, but the postgame scene added a little extra heat to an already rough night. Dallas has been searching for answers after a sloppy showing against the Buccaneers, and the frustration spilled into the building as the team headed out of the stadium. Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the struggles afterward and said the organization will take a hard look at everything, including possible coaching staff changes.
Dak Prescott also found himself in the middle of a tense exchange on the way out, one that underscored just how raw the mood was around the Cowboys. He later described the interaction and made clear where he stands on criticism, preferring it to be delivered straight rather than from behind a turned head. For a team already trying to steady itself, even the walk to the exit became part of a longer conversation about accountability. [Read more 🡒]