The Tampa Bay Buccaneers return from their bye looking to get back on track as they prepare for a Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Bucky Irving has been sidelined for over a month with foot and shoulder injuries that have proven far more problematic than initially anticipated. Will fantasy football managers finally see their star running back return to the field for the stretch run?
Bucky Irving Injury Update
Irving has been out since suffering his injuries during Tampa Bay’s Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Buccaneers’ choice to keep him on the active roster rather than placing him on injured reserve initially suggested they expected a brief absence. That decision now looks misguided, as Irving has missed five consecutive games with no clear end in sight.
Had Tampa Bay used injured reserve, Irving would have been eligible for activation after Week 8. Instead, they maintained him on the 53-man roster while he sat out week after week. The prolonged timeline reveals these injuries have been far more problematic than the organization initially believed.
Week 10 represented the most realistic target date for Irving’s return once clarity emerged about his situation. However, Wednesday brought devastating news for fantasy managers holding onto hope.
Rick Stroud reported that Irving is not practicing today. This development essentially eliminates any possibility of him playing Sunday against San Francisco.
Head coach Todd Bowles established a discouraging pattern throughout Irving’s absence. For multiple consecutive weeks, Bowles immediately ruled Irving out for upcoming games without providing encouraging updates about his recovery. There were no mentions of him “progressing well” or “getting closer” – just silence and early eliminations from the game plan.
Irving’s foot injury was originally described as a one-to-two week concern. More than five weeks later, that injury should theoretically be healed. The persistent problem appears to be his shoulder, though the Buccaneers have never clarified the exact nature of that injury or offered any concrete recovery timeline.
Players returning from extended injuries don’t just need “one more day” to recover without practicing. If they don’t practice on the first Wednesday after a long layoff, they don’t play that week.
Irving’s absence Wednesday makes it abundantly clear he won’t play in Week 10. Given the timeline of events and continued lack of progress, it’s also pretty safe to assume Irving won’t play in Week 11 either, though we won’t know for certain until next week’s practice reports.
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.
Rachaad White has handled the full workload during Irving’s absence, and the results have been predictably 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.
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White’s pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry and inability to create explosive gains tell the story. His longest rush this season measures just 16 yards, while his longest reception sits at 18 yards. These numbers demonstrate the stark difference in dynamism between White and Irving.
If Irving does return – and that remains a significant “if” at this 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.
Fantasy managers who have held Irving through this prolonged absence have little choice but to continue waiting. Despite the concerning lack of positive news, his upside when healthy remains too substantial to drop.
With Tampa Bay now six weeks removed from Irving’s initial injury and fresh off their bye week, conditions should be optimal for his return. Fantasy managers can only hope that this is finally the week Irving gets back on the field and begins delivering the explosive production they’ve been waiting for since early October.