Bucky Irving doesn’t always get treated like one of the NFL’s premier backs, but the numbers say he belongs in that conversation.
As he enters his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Irving has already built a profile as one of the league’s most explosive runners since arriving in 2024. He’s one of just eight backs to average at least 4.5 yards per rush and five yards per touch over that span, joining Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, James Cook, Saquon Barkley, and De'Von Achane.
That kind of company matters even more when you factor in what happened in 2025. Irving battled injuries and was limited to seven games, a stretch that didn’t look much like the rookie version of him at all. In 10 games last season, he averaged only 3.4 yards per carry, which was a steep drop from his first year.
The opener offered a much more familiar version of Irving. He wasn’t handed a huge workload - just eight carries, likely because of how the game played out - but he made them count, turning that into 45 yards, 5.6 per carry, and a touchdown. He added seven catches on seven targets for another 48 yards.
That’s the kind of all-around impact Tampa Bay wants from him, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson seems ready to lean even harder into it. Irving opened the new campaign with 15 touches, but the Bucs clearly want more.
The case for that usage is strong. Since entering the league in 2024, only two running backs have posted a higher forced-missed-tackle percentage than Irving’s 30.1%: Bijan Robinson at 30.8% and Kenneth Walker III at 33.8%.
He’s also stacked up well in production that stretches beyond just the ground game. Irving has more games with at least 45 rushing yards and 45 receiving yards - five - than all but three backs: Christian McCaffrey, Robinson, and Achane. His 3.5 yards after contact ranks fifth among running backs since 2024.
If Irving is back to the explosive form he showed as a rookie, Tampa Bay’s offense stands to benefit in a big way.
The Bucs now have Kenneth Gainwell alongside him in the backfield, which should help keep Irving fresh over the course of the season. And if Tampa makes a real effort to get him the ball more, Irving has the kind of talent that can turn this into a Pro Bowl-level year and put him at the center of the offense.
In Other News...
Bucs Usage After That Loss Raises One Big Offensive Concern
The snap counts from Tampa Bays loss to Cleveland offered a revealing look at how the Buccaneers tried to piece together their offense, and it started with the passing game. Jalen McMillan saw a limited workload, while Ted Hurst III was asked to carry more of the load and ended up with a costly drop that stood out in a game where the Bucs never quite found the right rhythm.
Bucky Irving again looked like the most important piece of the offense, out-snapping Kenny Gainwell and handling the bulk of the backfield work. On the other side of the ball, David Walker made the most of limited opportunities with his first career sack, but the bigger takeaway for Tampa Bay was how uneven the offensive usage looked in a loss that raised questions about where the production is supposed to come from next. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Fans Already Feel The Void Lavonte David Left
Through two games, Alex Anzalone has held the Buccaneers starting linebacker role and worn the helmet that comes with calling the defense, but the early returns have been rough. His work in coverage and as a tackler has left Tampa Bay without much stability in the middle, and the roster doesnt offer an obvious immediate upgrade as the team tries to settle that spot.
The bigger issue is the shadow left by Lavonte David, whose retirement this offseason ended a 14-year run in Tampa Bay and removed a player who had long been both a leader and a tone-setter. Rookie Josiah Trotter has already made more tackles than Anzalone, which only sharpens the contrast as the Buccaneers look for someone to replace not just the production, but the presence David brought to the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Draw A Much Tougher Vikings QB Test Than Expected
A week after the matchup started looking like it might come with a different quarterback story, the Buccaneers now have a clearer picture of what awaits in Week 3. Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell confirmed that Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol and will start against Tampa Bay, with Carson Wentz staying in the backup role. It gives the Bucs a far different challenge than they were preparing for, especially with Minnesota still carrying the edge in the betting line.
For Tampa Bay, the bigger wrinkle is not just the name under center, but the uncertainty hanging over what comes next. Murrays return gives Minnesota a more dynamic look right away, while the possibility that his status beyond this week is still unsettled only adds another layer to the matchup. However the Vikings handle their quarterback situation after Sunday, the Buccaneers are getting a sturdier test than they may have expected when the week began. [Read more 🡒]