It’s been a roller coaster season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hold a slight lead in the NFC South despite having to overcome a number of significant injuries to several star players, including Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
As the team prepares for a crucial Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Buccaneers are looking to be down yet another key piece of their offense.
What is the latest update on Buccaneers’ star running back Bucky Irving?
It looks like Bucky Irving is inching closer to a return to the field; however, it won’t be during the team’s matchup against the Bills. On Friday, Irving was once again added to the injury report, signaling that he will not be dressing for the Buccaneers as they make their way North.
The 23-year-old has not appeared in a game since Week 4 after suffering from a combination of a subluxation of his shoulder and a sprain in his foot. Despite being ruled out for Sunday’s game, Irving was able to participate in a trio of limited practices this week, suggesting that a return to action could come sooner rather than later.
Tampa Bay Head Coach Todd Bowles spoke to the media on Friday, addressing the health of both Bucky Iriving and Chris Godwin, not ruling out a Week 12 return for a showdown against the Los Angeles Rams.
“We’ll see next week. There’s a process they’ve got to go through, but they’re out running around well, and they’re moving well. So we’ll go through the process and make sure they’re 100 percent before they get out there. Not this week, but we’ll see how it goes next week.”
It has been a disappointing season so far for Bucky Irving, who enjoyed a tremendous breakout rookie campaign for the club last year. According to PFSN’s RB Season Impact Ranking, Irving currently sits 40th on the list. The fact that injuries have kept Irving off the field has been a contributor to his dramatic fall on the list, considering he finished last year ranked 4th in among all NFL running backs.
The news that Bucky Irving will be sidelined yet again means that the Buccaneers will look to fellow running backs Rachaad White and Sean Tucker to carry the load for the team. A victory on Sunday could give the Buccaneers some breathing room in the NFC South, as they sit in first place with a 6-3 record, while the Carolina Panthers are hot on their heels at 5-5.
