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 now missed four consecutive games since sustaining his injuries during Tampa Bay’s Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. What makes his extended absence particularly puzzling is that the Bucs chose not to place him on injured reserve, which would have made him eligible to return after Week 8. The decision suggested the team didn’t view his injuries as overly significant when they first occurred.
However, the fact that Irving has now missed five full weeks tells a different story entirely. Had Tampa Bay placed him on IR initially, he would have been eligible to be activated last week after serving the mandatory four-game absence.
From the moment clarity emerged about the nature of Irving’s injuries, Week 10 was always the anticipated return date. But it remains far from a guarantee.
Each Monday, head coach Todd Bowles has been summarily ruling out Irving for the upcoming week’s contest. The lack of positive updates from Bowles has become increasingly concerning. While coachspeak can be frustrating, it often serves a purpose by providing insight into injury significance.
For Irving, there has not been a single positive report in five weeks. Each Monday during Bowles’ press conference, when asked about Irving, there have been no comments about him ‘progressing’ or being evaluated ‘later in the week’. Irving has been ruled out immediately for each of the past four weeks without hesitation. This pattern does not sound like a player who is close to returning.
When Irving was initially injured, his foot issue was described as a one-to-two week concern. That should be fully healed by now. The primary obstacle appears to be his shoulder injury, though the team has never provided confirmation about the exact nature of that problem.
The Bucs will likely hold an unofficial practice this afternoon and Bowles will speak to reporters. Hopefully, he says what everyone is hoping for, that Irving will practice and gives us something positive toward an expected return.
Irving Fantasy Outlook
Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles, especially in the ground game, have lined up perfectly with Irving’s time on the sidelines. Through the first four weeks of the season, Irving had cemented himself as the undisputed RB1, putting up strong numbers both carrying the ball and catching passes.
Rachaad White has taken over full backfield duties while Irving has been out, but White has delivered the same inefficient and lackluster performances he’s known for. White had a chance to show that this backfield works better as a split, but he hasn’t provided the explosive plays that made Irving such a valuable asset.
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White’s numbers have been disappointing, managing just 3.9 yards per carry and failing to generate big plays. His longest run this season sits at just 16 yards, while his longest catch is 18 yards, demonstrating how much less dynamic he is compared to Irving.
Should Irving be able to suit up, and that’s still very much uncertain at this stage, he’ll instantly reclaim his position as the lead back. His skill set and track record of production make him impossible to replace in Tampa Bay’s offensive system.
Fantasy managers who have stashed Irving through this lengthy absence don’t have any other option but to keep holding. Despite the troubling lack of news, his ceiling is still too high to consider dropping.
With Tampa Bay coming off their bye in Week 10, now six weeks removed from his initial injury, the hope is that Irving will finally be cleared to return and deliver the explosive numbers fantasy managers have been patiently awaiting.