The Bucs have leaned hard on Bucky Irving all season, and Todd Bowles is finally signaling that the workload may need to come down after the bye.
That’s not because Irving has slowed down. Quite the opposite.
Through nine games, he’s piled up 825 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, putting him fourth in the NFL in rushing and ninth in scores on the ground. He’s on track to clear 1,000 yards and could even top the 1,122 he posted as a rookie.
For a Tampa Bay offense that has had a hard time getting much going through the air, Irving has been the engine.
He’s also been used like one. Irving has 195 touches already, including 167 carries, and he’s been on the field far more than backup Kenny Gainwell, 375 snaps to 220. If his recent pace of more than 20 rushing attempts per game holds, he’ll set a new career high in carries by Week 13.
Still, the Bucs know there’s a risk in asking that much from a back listed at 5-foot-10, 192 pounds, especially after he was limited to 10 games last season because of foot and shoulder injuries. Bowles said the bye came at the right time and made it clear the team is thinking about dialing things back.
“I think the bye week for him has come at a perfect time,” Bowles said of Irving. “I think he’s tough and he’s handling everything right now but I don’t know if he has the frame to keep up that type of workload.
We’re going to have to take some of the carries off of him, and it’s hard to do because he’s playing such great football right now and he’s our bell cow. But we’ve still got to be wary of trying to keep him upright the entire season.”
The problem, as the Bucs have shown before, is that saying it and doing it are two different things. Bowles and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson have both talked about getting more backs involved, but Irving has still carried the offense.
The good news for Tampa Bay is that the room behind him has shown signs of life. Kenny Gainwell started slowly after arriving as a free agent, but he’s picked it up.
In Week 7 at Carolina, he ran for 88 yards at 6.3 per carry. A week later against Atlanta, he turned in a career-best 140 rushing yards as the Bucs set a franchise record with 324 yards in the game.
Last week at Chicago, he didn’t do much on the ground, but he added 60 receiving yards and a 44-yard catch-and-run.
Sean Tucker is another option, even if the Bucs have been careful with him. He broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run in the second half of the Week 7 blowout, and he led the team last season with seven touchdowns.
Tucker has two touchdowns this year, one more than Gainwell, and he may be Tampa Bay’s most explosive back. Even so, he didn’t play an offensive snap over the last two weeks.
If the Bucs really do cut back Irving’s workload, Tucker and Gainwell give them ways to make it happen. That could mean a little less production in the short term, but Tampa Bay may be betting that a fresher Irving matters more when the season reaches its biggest moments.
In Other News...
Bucs Face A Trade Deadline Call That Could Save Baker Mayfield
With the Buccaneers sitting at 3-6 and still somehow atop the NFC South, the offense has become the bigger concern than the standings. Tampa Bays passing game has been stuck at the bottom of the league, and that kind of production puts even a division lead in jeopardy if it does not turn around soon. For a team trying to keep Baker Mayfield upright and productive, the trade deadline offers one of the few realistic chances to add a jolt.
One name that naturally fits the conversation is George Pickens, whose talent has been on display in Dallas and whose contract situation makes him a possible trade candidate. The Buccaneers have not been linked to any official talks, but the fit is obvious enough to keep circling back to: a receiver with the ability to change coverage and give Tampa Bay a more dangerous passing game. Whether the front office is willing to pay the price is another question, and one that could define how aggressive this team wants to be about saving its season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Wasted A Golden Chance In Chicago And Fans Know Why
A strong defensive effort at Soldier Field should have been enough to give Tampa Bay a road win, especially after the Buccaneers forced five Chicago turnovers and got a much-needed rebound from a unit that had a rough opening stretch. Cornerback Jacob Parrish was part of that turnaround, and for long stretches the defense did its job well enough to put the game in the Bucs' hands.
The problem was the offense never fully cashed in on those chances, and the missed opportunities proved costly in a 27-24 loss to the Bears. Baker Mayfield's night turned on two interceptions, including a pick-six, while Bucky Irving was the one consistent bright spot with 125 total yards and two touchdowns, leaving Tampa Bay with plenty to clean up after letting a golden opening slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Bowles Just Put The Bucs Trade Deadline Pressure In Focus
Todd Bowles didnt try to gloss over where the Buccaneers stand as the trade deadline approaches. With Tampa Bay near the top of the division, the coach acknowledged the passing game has not been living up to the standard the team has set in recent seasons, and that reality is starting to shape the conversation about what comes next.
A veteran receiver is one possible way the Bucs could try to lift the offense, especially if they want to keep pace in a crowded race. But the deadline also forces a broader decision on the roster as a whole, with Tampa Bay weighing whether to add help, move pieces or simply stand pat and trust the group already in place. [Read more 🡒]