The Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for their Week 12 home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams with continued uncertainty surrounding their explosive running back. Bucky Irving has been sidelined for seven weeks with foot and shoulder injuries that have proven far more severe than initially anticipated. Will fantasy football managers finally see their star running back return to the field?
Bucky Irving Injury Update
Irving has been limited at practice for two weeks now after missing the team’s previous six games. The second-year back hasn’t played since Week 4 due to a shoulder injury and a sprained left foot. He was a limited participant in all three practice sessions last week before being ruled out for the game against Buffalo.​
This week has followed a similar pattern, with Irving listed as limited on Wednesday and Thursday’s practice reports. Head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Irving is “ramping up” his reps at practice to test his availability for Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard told Scott Smith of the Buccaneers’ official site Thursday that it’ll be “unfair to immediately ask them to play 50 snaps” when Irving and Chris Godwin return, and the team “will figure out how much they can handle as it goes”.​
However, fantasy managers should not get their hopes up about a return this week, and possibly anytime soon. Buccaneers legend Ronde Barber delivered an ominous update during the latest episode of his show on WFLA-TV, confirming that the game against Los Angeles won’t see the team’s lead running back return to the lineup.​
“Bucky is not going to be back on Sunday Night Football,” Barber said. As he went on to reveal, Irving’s ailing shoulder is not ready to take a hit.​
Barber’s comments align with reporting from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who expressed skepticism about Irving’s imminent return. “I’m not entirely convinced Bucky Irving will be back this weekend based on something I picked up while in Philadelphia,” Florio shared with his co-host Chris Simms, referencing JoeBucsFan.com. “I’ll explain off-air what I heard, as I want to tread carefully. It emphasizes the existence of insider information that probably shouldn’t be public. But I doubt he’ll return anytime soon”.​
Florio indicated that there is more to the situation than what the injury report reveals, though he did not elaborate further. This leads to speculation that Irving could be facing off-the-field challenges that might prolong his absence, though no confirmation has been provided.​
This development marks the latest chapter in the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Irving, whose injury situation has been shrouded in ambiguity, keeping him sidelined longer than anticipated. Initially, it was assumed that his prolonged absence was due to a setback or a more severe injury than initially diagnosed, but the recent reports prompt consideration of additional factors at play.
Irving Fantasy Outlook
Irving’s absence has coincided with Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles, particularly their inability to generate explosive plays in the running game. During the first four weeks of the season, Irving established himself as the clear RB1, producing efficiently both as a rusher and receiver.​
Through four games this season before the injury, Irving rushed for 237 yards and caught 19 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 18.0 PPR points per week, establishing himself as one of fantasy’s most dynamic backs before going down.​
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Rachaad White has handled the bulk of the work during Irving’s absence, and the results have been underwhelming. White had an opportunity to prove this backfield should operate with a more balanced split, but he’s failed to replicate the big plays that made Irving so valuable. His longest rush this season measures just 16 yards, while his longest reception sits at 18 yards.​
If Irving does return at some point, he’ll immediately reclaim his role as the lead back. His talent level and proven production make him irreplaceable in Tampa Bay’s offensive scheme. The question is whether that return happens soon enough to matter for fantasy purposes.​
Fantasy managers who’ve held Irving through this prolonged absence should continue monitoring his practice participation. The fact that he’s back on the field after weeks of complete absence represents meaningful progress, even if the timeline for his return remains uncertain. Week 13 or 14 appears to be the most realistic target for his comeback.
