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The Tampa Bay Bucs just can’t catch a break on the injury front. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs will be sidelined for the start of the season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery this week. It’s a major blow to Baker Mayfield and Tampa’s high-powered offense – and the timing couldn’t be worse with limited replacement options available.

The Bucs now face a critical challenge: finding someone to protect Mayfield’s blind side immediately. While they might explore trade options during preseason cuts or later in the season, right now they’re staring at a pretty bare free agency cupboard. The front office needs to move quickly.

3. Jedrick Wills Jr.

Though Wills has publicly stated he wants time to fully recover before fielding calls, you can bet he’d jump at an opportunity from Todd Bowles and the Bucs. The former first-rounder hasn’t lived up to expectations since Cleveland drafted him in 2020, but there’s an interesting connection here that might make sense for Tampa.

He’s already familiar with Mayfield’s tendencies in the pocket.

Despite his inconsistency issues that led to several benchings in Cleveland, Wills was manning the left tackle spot during Mayfield’s playoff run with the Browns. The last two seasons have been rough – injuries and subpar performance limited him to just 13 games over that span – but a change of scenery might do him good.

Much like Mayfield’s career revival in Tampa, Wills could potentially find new life in a different system. He’s not an ideal solution by any stretch, but that existing chemistry with Baker might be worth the phone call from the Bucs’ front office.

2. Germain Ifedi

Ifedi spent last season with Cleveland’s injury-plagued offensive line. While that unit as a whole struggled mightily, he could provide a serviceable stopgap until Wirfs returns or the team swings a trade. The beauty of these emergency options is they don’t need to be long-term fixes – just someone who can hold down the fort temporarily.

His numbers don’t exactly inspire confidence – Ifedi posted a 48.6 overall Pro Football Focus grade last season, landing him firmly in the bottom tier of NFL linemen. His pass protection grade (52.9) was marginally better, which is at least something the Bucs could work with in a pinch.

One advantage Ifedi brings is positional flexibility. Though he primarily played left tackle in 2023, he can slide to different spots along the line when needed – a valuable trait once Wirfs returns to the lineup.

1. Geron Christian

If the first two options fall through, Christian represents a true “break glass in case of emergency” call. He hasn’t seen meaningful action since his first Cleveland stint back in 2023 and has bounced around several NFL rosters – most recently with the Browns last year.

Christian’s journeyman status has made him primarily a swing tackle throughout his career. While he has experience at both left and right tackle positions, reliability is a major concern. He hasn’t appeared in more than five games in a season since 2023 and isn’t built to be an every-down starter in the NFL.

If Tampa ends up calling Christian, they’d better pray Wirfs’ recovery timeline is on the shorter end. Though the situation could technically be worse, losing your most important lineman makes even mediocre replacement options feel inadequate. The Bucs are desperately hoping it doesn’t come to this.