Tampa Bay Buccaneers Running Back Bucky Irving Set To Be Out 2 Weeks
Well, Tampa Bay, I hope you weren’t getting too attached to seeing Bucky Irving juke defenders out of their cleats anytime soon. The Buccaneers’ backfield just took another hit, and this one feels like a gut punch for fantasy managers and Bucs fans alike. According to the NFL’s top news-breaker, Adam Schefter, Irving isn’t just dealing with that pesky foot sprain; he’s got a shoulder issue that’s apparently the real villain in this story.
Context Surrounding the Injury
Turns out that Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving’s shoulder injury, which he did not report to the team until Tuesday last week, is more of an issue than his sprained foot, per sources. Irving is dealing with a shoulder subluxation that is expected to sideline him at least two weeks.… pic.twitter.com/HMxBrLTQ4E
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2025
The latest buzz is that Irving is expected to be sidelined for at least two games. That means you can officially scratch him off your list for this Sunday’s showdown against the Seahawks and, in all likelihood, the Week 6 clash with the formidable San Francisco 49ers. It is a tough pill to swallow, especially for a player who was just starting to find his rhythm.
This whole situation is a bit of a mess, frankly. After the Week 4 loss to the Eagles, we heard about the left foot sprain that had Irving sporting a walking boot. He was a spectator at practice all week, so ruling him out for Week 5 was a no-brainer. But the plot thickened when Schefter dropped the bomb about the shoulder. Apparently, Irving didn’t even mention the shoulder injury to the team until Tuesday, and now it’s being called the more “serious” of his two ailments.
What Does Irving’s Absence Mean for the Bucs?
With Irving on the mend, the spotlight now swings directly onto Rachaad White. He is set to handle the lion’s share of the carries and will continue to be the main man on passing downs, but he won’t be completely alone. The Buccaneers will also be leaning on reserves Sean Tucker and Josh Williams to pick up some of the slack in the ground game. This is a golden opportunity for one of them to step up and prove they deserve a bigger piece of the pie. Can they provide a spark? The Bucs’ coaching staff will be watching closely.
Looking Ahead for Bucky Irving
For now, Irving is in recovery mode. The team will see if he can get back on the practice field next week before making any official calls about the 49ers game. The hope is that a couple of weeks of rest will be enough to get him back to 100%, because when he’s healthy, Irving is a dynamic threat who can change the game. Until then, the Bucs’ backfield will have to figure out how to get by without him.
