The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dealing with uncertainty in their backfield following Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bucky Irving is apparently dealing with an injury stemming from Sunday’s game. For fantasy football managers counting on the dynamic running back, what is the latest on his status?
Bucky Irving Injury Update
Irving’s injury occurred late in the first half during Tampa Bay’s 31-25 defeat to Philadelphia. The second-year back took a hard hit from Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell with just 22 seconds remaining before halftime but managed to return for the second half and finish the contest. But that is not the issue of concern.
Initially, there were no visible signs of a problem as Irving completed the game without apparent discomfort. However, the situation took a concerning turn on Monday when head coach Todd Bowles revealed that Irving would undergo an MRI examination.
When asked specifically if Irving was among the injured players causing worry, Bowles confirmed, “Yeah, he’s one of them.” The decision to order comprehensive imaging suggests the team believes there could be structural damage that wasn’t immediately apparent.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Irving is dealing with an ankle or foot injury and is seeking additional medical opinions on his condition. The fact that he’s gathering multiple evaluations indicates the initial results may have raised some concerns.
MORE: PFSN’s Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Assistant
While early reports described Irving as “sore,” he was spotted at Wednesday’s walkthrough with crutches wearing a walking boot. Adam Schefter reported the injury is a foot sprain, which is exponentially worse than a sprained ankle. He later added that the Bucs do not believe it is a long term issue and that Irving is “week-to-week.”
That’s somewhat positive news, but we can confidently say Irving won’t be playing football in four days.
Update: To the surprise of no one, Irving did not practice on Thursday, either.
Irving’s Fantasy Outlook
Irving has emerged as Tampa Bay’s primary offensive weapon in the backfield, commanding significant touches and target share through four games. His 71 carries and 19 receptions lead all Buccaneers running backs, establishing him as a reliable fantasy option despite averaging just 3.3 yards per rush.
Should Irving miss time, the Bucs backfield would shift to a committee approach rather than a direct replacement scenario. Rachaad White would see his role increase significantly, but he wouldn’t simply step into Irving’s complete workload.
White would likely handle most of the passing down work and third-down situations, areas where his skill set has always excelled. His pass-catching ability and route-running make him the natural choice for those responsibilities.
MORE: PFSN’s Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Sean Tucker would probably assume the early-down and goal-line duties that Irving has been handling. Tucker’s physical running style and short-yardage effectiveness make him better suited for those situations than White.
Both players would become startable fantasy options if Irving cannot play. White would function as a solid RB2 choice given Tampa Bay’s commitment to involving running backs in the passing game. Tucker would offer touchdown upside as an RB3/flex option with his red zone opportunities.
The split approach would create two viable fantasy options rather than one clear replacement. White’s ceiling would be higher due to his receiving work, while Tucker would provide more touchdown-dependent production.
Given that waivers have passed, if you roster Irving, hopefully, you were able to get one of White or Tucker as a backup plan.