The Buccaneers officially ended guard Sua Opeta’s season on Friday.
Opeta tore his ACL in practice on Tuesday night and the team has now placed him on injured reserve. Even if Opeta’s injury didn’t require the long recovery period needed after a ligament tear, he would be ineligible to return this year because he went on the list before the cut to 53 players.
The injury ends Opeta’s push to win the left guard job and that leaves Ben Bredeson as the likely starter at that spot for the Bucs.
In addition to announcing the Opeta move, the Bucs also announced the signing of linebacker Jay Person. The Bucs are currently practicing without edge rusher Yaya Diaby because of an ankle injury and Person gives them some more depth in that area.
The Buccaneers have received some initial positive news on outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, who was carted off the field during Thursday’s practice.
Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, X-rays on Diaby’s ankle were normal. Diaby still has to undergo an MRI later on Thursday but the Buccaneers are optimistic that Diaby avoided a serious injury.
Diaby, 25, recorded 7.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits as a rookie in 2023.
The Buccaneers also have a bit of an injury concern in their secondary. Head coach Todd Bowles said during his Thursday press conference that safety Jordan Whitehead could miss several days of practice with a sore quad.
Whitehead, 27, is back with the Bucs after spending the last two seasons with the Jets. He recorded four interceptions with nine passes defensed with New York last season.
The Buccaneers saw a key member of their defense go down with an injury at Thursday’s practice.
Edge rusher Yaya Diaby had to be carted off the field after going down during a drill. Diaby was not putting weight on his left leg before getting onto the cart.
After practice, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters at a press conference that Diaby injured his ankle. He said he did not have an update regarding the prognosis and that the team is “hopeful” Diaby avoided a major injury.
Diaby had 7.5 sacks during his rookie season and his presence became more important to the defense when Randy Gregory opted not to report to training camp last month.
Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs said that contract talks with the team were going well this week and they reached the finish line on Thursday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Wirfs and the Bucs have agreed to a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension. Wirfs was under contract for 2024, so he is now tied to the Bucs through the 2029 season.
Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht said recently that Wirfs deserves to be the highest-paid tackle in the league and the agreement puts him in that position.
Wirfs was a first-round pick in 2020 and he helped the team win the Super Bowl as a rookie. He was a first-team All-Pro the next season, a second-team All-Pro in 2022 and he’s been a Pro Bowler the last three seasons despite switching from right to left tackle in 2023. Thursday’s deal shows the Bucs are banking on continued productivity for a player who has given them no reason to doubt he’ll remain among the best tackles in the NFL.
Buccaneers offensive lineman Sua Opeta injured his knee in Tuesday night’s practice, and an MRI confirmed the bad news.
Opeta tore his ACL and is out for the season, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Opeta was competing with Ben Bredeson for the starting left guard job, which was left vacant by Aaron Stinnie’s departure for the Giants in free agency.
Opeta signed a one-year deal with the Bucs in March after starting six games for the Eagles last season and appearing in seven others. He played 527 snaps in 2023.
