Buccaneers' Tristan Wirfs seeing psychologist to help with position change

Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acknowledged after Friday's training camp practice he needed assistance from the team sports psychologist while making the move from right tackle to left tackle this offseason. 

"It seems like so minuscule, like oh, you're just flipping sides, but I was like having breakdowns about it," Wirfs admitted, as shared by ESPN's Jenna Laine and the JoeBucsFan website. "I'm like, 'I can't sit here with these thoughts anymore, I'm just kind of setting myself up for failure.' I would just think about, 'I am going to suck' or like, 'I am not going to be able to do it' all day long."

Wirfs initially joined the Buccaneers as a first-round pick during the 2020 NFL Draft and earned a Super Bowl ring with the organization as a rookie. He's thus far completed 46 regular-season starts at right tackle and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time First-Team All-Pro. 

Back in March, the Buccaneers officially released veteran Donovan Smith. Tampa Bay then failed to land a suitable full-time replacement via free agency and the draft and, thus, turned to Wirfs to switch positions. Making the transition proved difficult for the 24-year-old this offseason as the offense learns a different system under new coordinator Dave Canales.

"I was in a really rough spot mentally," Wirfs continued during his comments. "I was really nervous. I was playing out the season in my head over and over again like, 'Oh, what if it goes this way, or what if it goes this way?' So, I was like, 'It is freaking May. You have to calm down.'" 

Wirfs spent the bulk of his first three pro seasons blocking for quarterback and living legend Tom Brady, who retired in February. Unproven 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask and free-agency signing Baker Mayfield are competing for the right to replace Brady atop the depth chart and are also working to earn the trust of teammates such as Wirfs.

Wirfs added that chatting with club sports psychologist Dr. Joe Carella has helped remove negative thoughts about potential failures from his head. 

"I am still trying to get better at saying what I am thinking and feeling," Wirfs remarked. 

The Buccaneers will need Wirfs at his best to prove analysts and fans predicting the team will finish dead last in the division standings without Brady wrong. There's currently no indication the fourth-year pro will shift back to the right side of the line anytime soon.