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 missed four consecutive games after suffering his injuries during Tampa Bay’s Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bucs’ decision not to place him on injured reserve raised eyebrows from the start, as that choice suggested the organization believed his absence would be relatively brief. Had they used IR, Irving would have been eligible for activation after Week 8.
Instead, Tampa Bay kept him on the active roster, presumably expecting a quicker recovery. Five weeks later, that optimism appears misplaced. The extended timeline indicates Irving’s injuries have been more serious than the team initially assessed.
Week 10 always represented the most realistic target date for Irving’s return once the full scope of his injuries became clear. However, nothing about his status heading into this week suggests that timeline is guaranteed.
Head coach Todd Bowles has established a frustrating pattern over the past month. Every Monday, when asked about Irving’s status, Bowles has immediately ruled him out for the upcoming game without offering any encouraging details about his progress. There have been no mentions of Irving “getting better every day” or needing to “see how he feels later in the week” – the typical coachspeak that at least hints at optimism.
This absence of positive updates speaks volumes. For three straight weeks, Irving has been ruled out decisively and early. That doesn’t paint the picture of a player who’s close to returning.
Irving’s foot injury was originally characterized as a one-to-two week issue. By this point, more than a month later, that injury should be completely healed. The lingering problem appears to be his shoulder, though the Bucs have never specified the exact nature of that injury or provided any concrete timeline for recovery.
In a change from the usual routine, Bowles did not speak to reporters on Monday. Unfortunately, that meant we did not get an update. He is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday. That will be our first tangible update on Irving’s status for Week 10.
On Wednesday, Bowles finally gave some insight into Irving’s status…and it’s not good. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman characterized it perfectly: “Neither Godwin nor Irving has practiced — or been seen — in a month. There will be some physical ramp-up to any return, and they’re not even working on the side with trainers during practice, so it’s hard to talk seriously about either playing Sunday.”
Bowles said Irving is running, which suggests his foot injury is no longer an issue. However, he hasn’t taken any contact on his injured shoulder since it occurred. That is a troubling development well over a month into his absence.
As Auman put it, there will need to be a ramp up period. Typically, when players are closing in on a return, they are at practice working on a side field. When we see that, a player is typically a week or two away. Irving is not even at that point.
In a best case scenario, Irving starts working off to the side ahead of Week 11 and returns in Week 12. But the most likely outcome is we are still at least a month away from even talking about Irving playing again. At this point, fantasy managers should not count on Irving at all this season. Anything we get should be viewed as a bonus.
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.