Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting running back Bucky Irving hasn't featured in a game since the team's tough Week 4 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Although Irving has been sidelined with both a foot and a shoulder injury, the latter has been the main cause for concern, with Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles surmising that Irving can't play until his shoulder is healthy enough to lower to receive contact and take hits.
Bowles initially seemed totally pessimistic that Irving would have any shot at suiting up to play on Sunday for another massive AFC East battle. Irving was sorely missed in Week 10 as the Bucs stumbled to a 28-23 defeat to Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, and, this weekend, an even tougher opponent beckons in the Buffalo Bills.
Irving recently gave Bucs fans a glimmer of hope that he'd be ready for contact in Week 11, as he was able to practice on a limited basis from Wednesday to Friday. That turned heads, as, again, everything Bowles and beat reporters told fans indicated that Irving was still potentially weeks away from a return.
Who else do the Bucs have at runnning back?
Well, despite practicing on three days, Irving was limited enough by his shoulder injury in those sessions that he isn't going to be playing against the Bills. That's per the king of all the NFL reporters in the land, as ESPN's Adam Schefter informed everyone that Irving is going to be formally ruled out by the Bucs for this all important contest with the Bills.
With Irving ruled out for yet another game week, the Bucs attention will turn to the duo of Rachaad White and Sean Tucker in the running game on Sunday against a very tough Bills team. White is the No. 2 string running back in name, but that could change soon, given the fact that Tucker outplayed him and was highly impressive with 50 yards on just nine carries against the Patriots run defense, which is one of the best in the NFL.
After this week's game, the Bucs will face one of the king's of the NFC again, as the Los Angeles Rams are rolling behind their own MVP candidate in Matthew Stafford. By then, hopefully, Irving will be able to return before its officially a full two months he's been out injured, as Baker Mayfield could use the help to dethrone his former employers.