Bucky Irving’s second NFL season never came close to matching the promise he flashed as a rookie, and now the Buccaneers are counting on him to look like that player again.
In 2024, the Tampa Bay running back burst onto the scene with 1,122 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry, numbers that put him on track to become one of the league’s top backs. But injuries wrecked his 2025 season.
Two of them slowed him down badly, and when he finally got back on the field in the second half of the year, he was never able to regain the same burst on such a short turnaround. His production dipped to 3.4 yards per carry, and his touchdown total fell from eight to just one.
That’s why Irving enters the 2026 NFL regular season with plenty to prove. Baker Mayfield may be the headline name in that category, but Irving is right there with him. Tampa Bay also added Kenny Gainwell to the backfield, which only raises the pressure on Irving to sharpen his game.
He’s already making changes this offseason. Irving has added ten pounds to his frame, and the expectation is straightforward: he has to be stronger, more durable and more consistent if the Buccaneers are going to get the kind of ground game they need.
Even with the team’s belief in Mayfield and a receiver group that includes Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, the running game still matters. Irving remains the clear No. 1 back, and Tampa Bay needs him to do the heavy lifting - moving the chains, scoring touchdowns and handling the workload as the feature runner.
His role goes beyond just carries, too. A productive Irving gives Mayfield and the passing game a better chance to open things up, especially by forcing defenses to respect the run between the tackles. That kind of balance can help soften front sevens, bring safeties closer to the line and create more room for explosive plays downfield.
The Buccaneers’ formula is simple enough: if Irving is bigger, faster and, above all, healthier, Tampa Bay has a much better shot at making everything else work in 2026.
In Other News...
Mike Evans Is Giving Buccaneers Fans A Familiar Worry Again
Mike Evans first training camp with the 49ers has already brought a little too much familiar discomfort, as the veteran wide receiver has been dealing with a string of minor injuries that have interrupted his preparation. The latest issue is a groin injury that has kept him from practicing, adding another layer of concern for a player the team brought in on a three-year contract with guaranteed money and per-game roster bonuses.
For a player whose availability has long mattered as much as his production, even these early camp setbacks are enough to make fans uneasy about what the season might look like. The 49ers are counting on Evans to settle in quickly and be a reliable part of the offense, but the recurring nature of these injuries has left his status and workload worth watching closely as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Pass Rush Plan Just Hit A Worrying Rueben Bain Snag
Rueben Bain Jr.s first summer with the Buccaneers has already hit an unexpected pause. The first-round pick suffered an AC sprain during a joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a setback that briefly disrupted what had been building into an important stretch for Tampa Bays pass rush plans.
The good news for the Buccaneers is that the injury is not considered serious, and Bain is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He sat out the next days practice and is likely to spend the rest of the offseason focused on recovery, but the team appears to have avoided anything that would threaten his early-season availability. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Receiver Battle Just Got More Interesting After Mike Evans Exit
Mike Evans is gone after 13 seasons, and the Buccaneers are suddenly looking at a receiver room that has a very different feel to it. For a team that spent years leaning on one of the leagues most reliable targets, the focus now shifts to the pieces still in place, with Baker Mayfield already signaling confidence in Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and rookie Ted Hurst as Tampa Bay sorts out how to replace Evans production and leadership.
Godwin brings the most proven track record, while Egbuka and McMillan are expected to have bigger roles as the Bucs reshape the passing game around them. Health and experience will matter as camp and the season unfold, and Hurst adds another layer of intrigue as a rookie trying to earn his place in the mix. The challenge is obvious enough, but so is the opportunity, because this could be the group that determines how smoothly Tampa Bay moves into life after Evans. [Read more 🡒]