Sean Tucker exploded for one of the best games of his career against the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. He rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns and added 34 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The performance comes just a week after Tucker became the first running back all season to eclipse 50 rushing yards against the New England Patriots and their No. 1 rushing defense.
Tucker’s emergence over the last two games begs the question, what is his role in the offense going forward when Bucky Irving returns from injury.
Tampa Bay is in an enviable position regarding their running back depth, boasting one of the best trios in the league made up of Irving, Tucker, and Rachaad White.
Tucker has been the most productive of the three this season. He’s rushed for 4.6 yards per carry compared to White (3.9) and Irving (3.3), while his four touchdowns are tied with White for the most in the running back room.
With how well he’s produced with his limited sample size, it’s hard to argue that he’s earned a bigger role, even when Irving returns.
It’s a good problem for the Buccaneers to have. With three serviceable running backs, they can split the workload, keep everyone fresh, and reduce the risk of further injuries for someone like Irving, who already missed six games.
A strong running game would be a significant boost for Baker Mayfield and an offense that has struggled recently in the passing game as a result of losing so many wide receivers due to injuries.
Tampa Bay currently ranks in the lower half of the league, coming in at No. 22 with 110 rushing yards per game. Just a season ago, they boasted a top-5 rushing offense with 146.5 rushing yards per game.
Perhaps leaning more on Tucker is the key to getting back to the success of last season’s rushing attack and taking the offense to the next level for the back-half of the season.