Bucky Irving says last year gave him a lesson he won’t forget, and the Buccaneers are banking on that experience paying off in 2026.
Tampa Bay is trying to put a disappointing finish to the 2025 season behind it after missing the NFL playoffs, and Irving was one of the players who had to fight through injury issues along the way. He missed time with foot and shoulder problems, but he sounds like he came out of that stretch with a different perspective.
“Actually, I found out a lot about myself last year. I've been playing football since I was four, and that was my first time actually being away from the game and being hurt… In this game, we play a physical game, we play the running back position, we get banged up every week. At some point, some adversity's going to come in life… you've just got to know how to go about it,” he said, per NFL insider Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network on X, formerly Twitter.
That matters for the Buccaneers because when Irving has been healthy, he’s shown why he’s viewed as one of the league’s most promising young backs. His speed changes the game, and his ability as a pass catcher gives Tampa Bay a weapon it can move around and feature in different ways.
The Bucs are also hoping for more from Baker Mayfield, whose play fell off badly late in last season. Down the stretch, he looked much more like the earlier version of himself than the rejuvenated quarterback Tampa Bay had grown used to seeing.
Tampa Bay opens the new season on September 13 with a road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Preseason QB Problem Todd Bowles Must Solve
The Buccaneers first preseason game already had a different feel with Baker Mayfield set to sit against the Jets, but the backup plan took a hit during joint practice. Jake Browning had been lined up to handle the start, giving Tampa Bay a veteran option to open the exhibition slate while the team sorted through the rest of its quarterback depth.
Now the picture is less settled after Browning hurt his back, leaving his availability for Friday in question. If he cannot go, the Buccaneers will have to divide the reps between Jalon Daniels and Connor Bazelak, turning what was supposed to be a straightforward preseason assignment into an early test of how quickly the coaching staff can adapt. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A QB Situation Fans Can't Ignore
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For the Buccaneers, the intrigue is obvious because the position always sits at the center of their long-term planning, and any young quarterback with first-round pedigree will draw attention if he becomes available. The fit would depend on more than just interest, of course, but the combination of need, coaching stability and future uncertainty makes Tampa Bay a team worth watching closely if the Vikings really do start taking calls. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Fans Have A New Emeka Egbuka Concern
Emeka Egbukas first summer with the Buccaneers hit a concerning pause during a joint practice with the Jets, when the rookie wide receiver went down after a catch and had to leave the field. He was able to walk off under his own power, but Tampa Bay trainers checked him on the sideline before he headed back inside, a sequence that immediately put his availability back into focus for a team trying to sort out its passing game depth.
For now, the Buccaneers are waiting on more information, and that is what makes the situation uncomfortable. Egbuka did not return to practice, and the team has not said how serious the injury is, leaving Tampa Bay with a familiar late-summer stress test as it weighs how much it can afford to lose from a player who was already drawing attention in camp. [Read more 🡒]