The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs in the first round to replace Demar Dotson as the team’s starting right tackle this year. But without a rookie mini-camp, OTAs, a mandatory mini-camp or a preseason this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wirfs will have just two weeks – 14 padded practices in total – to prepare for his rookie debut in New Orleans in Week 1.
The lack of preparation time due to the coronavirus outbreak this year may force the team to change its plans for the season opener and start veteran newcomer Joe Haeg at right tackle instead.
The reason?
Tampa Bay’s right tackle – whoever it is – will be facing Saints five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan, who had a career-high 15.5 sacks last year. Jordan has 87 sacks in his nine-year NFL career, including double-digit sacks in each of the last three seasons. Jordan notched 2.5 sacks and six QB hits in two games against Tampa Bay last year – both of which were victories by New Orleans.
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