Bucky Irving Controversy Arises
November 20th, 2025
So last month, Joe was advised of a non-football issue tied to Bucky Irving, and Joe did a lot of digging to find the truth.
Joe even commissioned Ira Kaufman to tap his sources as well as another one of Joe’s plugged-in confidants.
After a lot of homework, Joe was satisfied with a direct answer that explained Irving’s issue was in the rearview mirror and no longer was affecting his football life. This was nothing sinister or anything that called Irving’s character into question. Case closed.
That was three weeks ago.
Joe didn’t write anything about it in this space or talk about it publicly.
But today, Mike Florio of NBC Sports and ProFootballTalk.com, said there’s a non-injury issue tied to Irving that is part of the reason he is not expected to play Sunday in Los Angeles. Florio is arguably the most well-connected NFL insider.
Joe cannot keep quiet if Florio is piping the following out to the NFL world with the following candor.
“I’m not so sure Bucky Irving is going to be back this weekend based upon something I heard when we were in Philadelphia,” Florio said today.
“I’ll tell you off-air what I heard,” Florio continued to his co-host Chris Simms. “I want to be careful. It just underscores the very real existence of inside information. Because it’s something that probably shouldn’t be out. But I don’t think he’s going to be back anytime soon. It definitely is more information than what’s in the injury report.”
Joe has no idea what is happening currently. It could be a revival of what Joe learned last month or something completely different.
Perhaps most disturbing is Florio saying he doesn’t think Irving will be back “anytime soon.”
Bucs icon Rondé Barber already reported Irving will not play Sunday. Irving, who officially is listed with shoulder and ankle issues, has been practicing this week (and last week) on a limited basis.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Wow
November 20th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Sounds like a mental health issue.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
WTF is happening with this team?????????????????????
November 20th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
I hope they will game plan around Tucker more. He’s a damn good RB.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
Is it some kind of mental health thing? ‘Cause short of losing relatives or getting divorced I can’t think of much that would distract from an 18 week football season…?
November 20th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
I love Bucky but…
He is NOT a #1 running back
Simply because of his size…
Bucs pick @19
November 20th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Bucs pick @32
November 20th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Everyone laughed at me and scoffed when I advised Bucky’s situation. I also heard he is healthy but the buc org is being cautious and keeping him out of football
November 20th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
gotta ride Tucker regardless lol…he has the hot hand…
sad to hear….hope it isnt gambling
GO BUCS!!!!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Sounds like that “Hardly Boys” South Park episode and the “raging clue” gag, until there’s more specificity on this currently vague matter.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
When will people here realize, he’s not coming back this year, McMillan is not coming back this year, Godwin is not coming back this year. No reason to bring Kancey and Evans back, if they’re ready, for a one-and-done-playoff game. This season was written off as a SB run after week 2 when all the new key injuries piled onto the old key injuries. I’d actually like Carolina to win the South and draw the first place schedule next year instead of us. That also might get Bowles to go ahead and decide to “retire.”
November 20th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
So what is it DS? Mental health? Suicide attempt? (Wow!) I hope it’s neither… if it’s none of that it’s hard to imagine what it could be if it doesn’t reflect negatively on him….??
November 20th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Something is definitely fishy with Bucky’s shoulder. Don’t think Godwin or JMac are coming back this season. Brutal year with injuries.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
I’m not going to say anything critical I’d rather Joe or the media to say something
November 20th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
This season is a wash. All smoke and mirrors to keep other teams guessing when we have wasted two roster spots… wow
November 20th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Mike Florio (to Chris Simms ON-THE-AIR) … “I’ll tell you off-air what I heard. I want to be careful. It just underscores the very real existence of inside information. Because it’s something that probably shouldn’t be out.’
I’m sorry Joe, but Mike Florio had no business broadcasting that ON-THE-AIR. All he did was invite TONS OF UNNECESSARY SPECULATION about Bucky & the Bucs. And all without providing a shred of evidence that there’s any validity to it.
IF he’s got evidence, lay it on the table. IF he doesn’t, shut the he11 up.
Florio could have had the comments edited out of his post-show YouTube cut-up, but that didn’t happen. So he clearly chose to put it out there. –Joe
November 20th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Mike Florio is a s-bag
November 20th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
i love bucky i hope he’s ok and we need him but we have good rbs …rachaad is awesome at what he does and tucker is fast but we need receivers …we need cg back, we can’t convert third downs …cg was the best at third downs, all of a sudden our wrs cannot get open and dang it throw deep to tez in the first qt!!!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
maybe its another extortion case similar to RW1….
BUCS were pretty tight lipped about that too….
starting to sound like a circus at One Buc Place lol…the off field entertainment reminds me of the JW3, Swaggy, Djax years lol
GO BUCS!!!!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
There’s no reason this team cannot win a Super Bowl *this year* if all or most of those players come back. So why wouldn’t they want to? Godwin and Bucky are already practicing. Evans will back week 14. We win out down the stretch and win a home playoff game. Then 2 away ones. 🙂
November 20th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Kayla … ‘When will people here realize, he (Bucky) is not coming back this year, McMillan is not coming back this year, Godwin is not coming back this year. No reason to bring Kancey and Evans back, if they’re ready, for a one-and-done-playoff game.’
Actually I agree with you Kayla, but you went off the ends of the earth after that. Do you REALLY want to see Carolina win the NFC South? Hard for me to imagine a true Bucs’ fan thinking that way, even one who apparently dislikes Todd Bowles as much as you seem to.
This team is giving it all it has despite some horrendous injury losses. Yes there are a LOT of ‘coaching adjustments’ that’ve been needed because of that, and a LOT of mistakes made in the process. But no one on this team has quit, and a winning season is still within reach. This team still has a LOT of heart, and regarding Carolina, I want to see the Bucs bury them … TWICE.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Instead of playing games with the injury report (like it’s really fooling anyone) they should be concentrating on winning with the players that are healthy. It’s more annoying than it is advantageous.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
This makes no sense. What is Florio, in the second grade? “I’ve got a secret but I can’t tell you what it is.”
C’mon, why get us fans potentially all riled up without, as DR said, ANY evidence?
Hmmmm.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Might be time to curb all the slobbering on Licht’s draft prowess. So many fans and media have pre-ordained these last few draft classes, and things are crumbling. Maybe these weren’t all “gems” that other GMs failed to identify, but more so players with large faults only Licht was willing to gamble on.
Kancey – small and injury prone
Braswell – massive bust
Barton – not a difference maker. Not getting better. Possibly regressing
Bucky – small, personal issues
Dennis – small, bad instincts, terrible in coverage
McMillian – small, injury prone
Klein – not good enough to get snaps
Culp – not good enough to get snaps
Morrison – halfway through season, getting torched let and right
McCollum – paid and disappeared, soft
Winfield – small, injury prone, paid and disappeared
November 20th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
So it’s pure hearsay at this point. Booger was adamant Luke wasn’t coming back this year and look how that panned out.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
‘Joe cannot keep quiet if Florio is piping this out…’
?
Except Joe *is* keeping quiet. This whole article is basically: ‘We know secret stuff we can’t tell you about.. but we’re definitely not keeping quiet about the fact that we’re keeping quiet.’
That’s not journalism. That’s coy innuendo dressed up as insider credibility.
No, it’s Joe acknowledging learning things off the record and Joe honors those commitments. That is journalism. That’s why so many journalists write books decades after covering an event or issue or team, sharing things that become ok to share many, many years later. Sometimes with permission. Should Joe pretend Florio’s comment is coming out of left field. No. That’s not going to happen, either. That would be misleading. –Joe
November 20th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Maybe it’s time for all non-Bucs fans on this board to go away. Find someone else to bother.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Whoa, “JoeBucsFan” is all the rage on WDAE today!!!!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Well tell us Joe
November 20th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
This is why I stopped reading PFT. Florio has turned into TMZ. Like a little school girl. But yet here we all are, typing comments about this article.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
HeartyDickerson
Exactly! And Thanks!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
I always thought it was odd that he caught a 60 yard bomb after being “injured”
November 20th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Glad I’ve got Sean Tucker handcuffed to Bucky in my fantasy league.
November 20th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Not fair to speculate. Hope he is getting better and/or is safe. Friends have seen him hanging out by the riverwalk in Tampa and talked with him.
Definitely got the vibe early on with these “injuries” coming out of One Buc were beyond the normal gamesmanship allowed in the NFL.
There is something very wrong with the leadership within the Bucs organization, and they need to be investigated. Godwin, Wirfs, the hamstrings, and the rest of these injuries seem to be suspect on timing and info. Now the team is “sick”.
A lot of people rely on accurate information when gambling on the NFL and since the NFL sponsors, promotes, and profits from it, this may get Congress involved if it keeps up along with the reffing issues, who knows what may come out next
November 20th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Mental Illness is real man!!! let’s pray it’s not the case!!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
They think everyone else across Tampa Bay loves Todd Bowles, and thinks he’s been doing a GREAT JOB over the past four seasons. They ‘think’ we’re all crazy or something!? While, not even taking account barely ‘limping’ into the playoffs EVERY freaking year now, for about the past 4-5 YEARS running, & coming out of THE ‘historically’ WEAKEST Divisions in the entire NFL. And, with it taking Cohen to literally, save HIS JOB last season (needed EVERY single point and yard), and with Winfield Junior saving-it the season before. It’s amazing HOW MUCH T-Krass (though, off today) defends him, too!!!!
November 20th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
StPetefatt is a Goober !
November 20th, 2025 at 4:03 pm
Mayyyybe. Florio is a bit of a self-aggrandizing blowhard. Not sure he’s all that credible. If it was Rick Stroud, I would believe it. But Florio: maybe/maybe not.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Soft ass team built with a bunch of pansies thats just the facts unfortunately…
November 20th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
All this doom and gloom,, all this the sky is falling,,, Bucs are still the second best odds to win any division at -850 (Phily is way way less) ,, the rest of the field is -300 or better ,,,, and in my humble , expert gambling opinion , come Tues morning the Bucs will be -900 to -1000,,, (not because we beat LA , Cause Carolina gets drilled by SF) ,, so sit back,, close your eyes Sun night or read a book ,,, and then we start the easier part of our schedule and hopefully start getting a guy back here and there , beat AZ next week and we will be 7-5 (sound familiar )
November 20th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Well this is distrubing on a couple fronts. Ronde alluded to it last week. Now we hear this. Joe, you did the eight thing. Some things are private and not for public consumption. I think we need to protect and be mindful that Bucky is a person first and formost and deserves privicy on things like we all do. Let’s hope all is getting better for Bucky, whatever is going on.
So hats off to Bucky and yes we will cheer your return when you are ready to go!!!.
Thanks
November 20th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
I bet there is some ‘push and pull’ going on within the organization and Bucky’s camp… A good ole-fashioned tug-of-war. And, someone very close to the Bucs has intentionally ‘leaked-it’ to Florio. They are probably about fed-up with him, by now! Guaranteed. I’m sure they want AND expect for HIM to be on the Fricking FIELD. 💯
November 20th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
Well, Joe, and I’m being serious here: Is this situation something for the fans to actually worry about? Will this affect the team? (more than it already has with Bucky missing so many games).
Or is it more of the “behind-the-scenes” tidbit you are known for dropping occasionally?
Call us curious, if you will…
November 20th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
You’re a double goober.
Injuries have definitely plagued this team something unreal. Last season it was everyone in the secondary. This season it’s every wide receiver.
Crazy.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Brandin Cooks has been released by the Saints. Go pick him up. Won’t even cost a draft pick!!
November 20th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
As Steve Stiffler said in American Wedding:
WTF Sh@t Break!!!
November 20th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
I can’t believe that Mr. Joe Bucs & the rest of you don’t think the Trainer might be responsible for some of these injuries. Secondly, if Godwin came back so what. He was mediocre at best in the few games he played this year & you think he’ll play better?
Other than drafting Emeka Egbuka what has Jason Licht done in the past year other than not fire Todd Bowles, lol.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
What I do not understand is why Bucky and Godwin were not put on IR. We could have signed another player to help in their absence. That made no sense to me at all.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Godwin was getting open- he just wasn’t catching the ball. That can remedy itself in a hurry.
Cooks isn’t better than Bucs WR8.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Hearty speaks the truth. I’m SICK of us drafting olinemen and changing their positions. The only time most other teams do that is to move a college tackle to guard. We act like big guys are just interchangeable. And a lot of the guys listed have great potential, they flash. But how many are regular pro bowl caliber players? I don’t see many, if any.
And I’m even MORE SICK of bowles getting a pass due to injuries.
1) Every team has injuries. The 2020 season was an aberration.
2) bowles refuses to address/fire the medical/ strength & conditioning/ training staff, so 🤷🏻♂️
If you can only be successful without injuries, you’re not gonna be very successful in the NFL.
Every season people give bowles a pass due to injuries, or rookies, or whatever the f. EVERY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE DEALS WITH THESE THINGS! If you can’t win in those conditions, you just SUCK.
#FIREbowles
#NOconfidence
November 20th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Maybe they don’t meet IR requirements because the Bucs leadership is playing games with the information
November 20th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Could this be in relation to what Richard Sherman knows?
November 20th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Can we fire KAYLA as a commentor out of a cannon?
November 20th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
It’s pretty rare people lose an *entire* starting position group. That’s horrific luck- especially 2 seasons in a row.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
I like Bicky at Oregon. I’ve liked Tuck running the ball a bit more. Both would be a nice combo….
So much for drafting character guys.. It’s always something with this organization.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Goedeke came back sooner than most do with a torn plantar fascia. FWIW
November 20th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
This team is a disaster.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
I’m not sure why it’s so hard for some of you knuckle-dragging mouth breathers to understand this. You all acted the same way years ago when it came out that Doug Martin was into things he shouldn’t have been into.
Here’s my concern. If Joe is hearing things, and Florio is hearing things, then there’s something there. Whatever that something is doesn’t really matter to fans. All that matters is that he’s not playing this weekend and he’s probably not playing for the rest of the season.
Mike Florio and Joe just don’t throw things out there to see what sticks. C’mon people, smarten up.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:49 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
I always thought it was odd that he caught a 60 yard bomb after being “injured”
Yes, I always thought this was very strange as well. Why wasn’t Godwin and Bucky put on IR? There has been a lot of issues this year with injuries, the coaching staff and the front office.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Oh well – at least we got one decent year out of Bucky.
Not bad bad for a 4th round pick and much better than most of Licht’s 4th round picks.
LOL!
It’s a Buc’s life.
Enjoy the pain and sorrow.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Beginning to remind me of when Raheem Morris started hanging out at the strip clubs more than he was at the buccaneers facility…. For whatever reason this team has gone from a respected contender (I’m talking about the early success in the national respect the team was receiving from all the talking heads) the team has gone from a respected contender to an afterthought on nation talk shows.
Can any person out there tell me a time that Todd Bowls defenses were respected and or feared anything like a money kissing defense? You can give a half a game here and a game there let the defense did well, but you cannot put together a continual game after game after game period of time that a Todd Bowles was respected and feared…. I hear over and over on this particular website what a defensive genius, what a defensive mastermind Todd Bowels is .. I see a defenses that occasionally play a quarter or 3/4 of a game but they’re going to give up Big plays and points. Holes everywhere. Quarterback is never on his back side.
Please if someone can give me some sort of evidence, via historical proof, that Todd bowls is a defensive mastermind for defensive changes please do share please…. thanks
November 20th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
**sorry voice text… Monty kiffin not money kissing. Haven’t said that money kissing that’s exactly what the Glaciers are doing with a majority of the defensive money paid out, kissing good money goodbye….
November 20th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Joe.. I say this with respect for the work you do, and I understand completely about honoring off-the-record commitments.
What I’m questioning is the choice to announce that you have off-the-record info you won’t share, then frame that as ‘not keeping quiet.’ To a reader, that lands less like clarity and more like, ‘We know something, we can’t tell you, but we want you to know we know it.’ It feels more like access-peacocking than information.
If the details can’t be reported, isn’t it better to leave them out until they are? And.. if they can be reported, report them. Sitting in the middle.. pointing at a secret while saying you can’t disclose it.. doesn’t actually help anyone understand the situation.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
This is the Football God’s way of forcing Tucker into the lineup in spite of our r*tarded a$$ HC who doesn’t like to play our best RB.
I wish Bucky well, but we should roll with Tucker and never look back.
Bucky can get some 2nd team reps when he gets back…
November 20th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Fabulous “journalism”, really top notch.
The Bowles of hard hitting sports news.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Athletes deserve no privacy when it comes to there playing availability or anything not related to there personal lives outside of football. Its a public domain with billions of dollars mental health is a thing but when your an athlete its not a private thing thats part of you being a highly paid athlete and in the public. Joe is a PUNK!! You will never change my mind at this point if a reporter has information off record it should stay that way. Saying oh there’s information but we cant tell you is complete BS. AND NO LONGER OFF RECORD IT CREATES SPECULATION WHICH IS JUST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE!!
November 20th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
I wonder if they’re covering up something with him, too! If maybe it’s more serious than they’re really coming out & saying.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Listening to these jagoffs cracks me up
November 20th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Relax….He practiced Wed…let’s see if he practiced today,….if he did , perhaps this isn’t a big problem…
November 20th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
@ TheVerv7 – we all assumed he was just mixed-up and said (RT vs RG) and said the wrong position, and was really meaning Mauch. He never came out and said “Goedeke.” He just said, “RT.” He just got ‘em mixed-up. It wasn’t anything malicious or intentional.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Trey Alderson-Cloutier Says: “Could this be in relation to what Richard Sherman knows?”
That’s an interesting comment… Nice memory! I would say probably so, for the most part. At least partly.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Has any reporter asked Bowles if he’s dealing with issues besides health?
November 20th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
UpstateNYBuc … ‘Mental Illness is real man!!! let’s pray it’s not the case!!’
THAT is exactly what innuendo spawns. No one from what I’m reading has said 1 word about the issue being mental illness. And yet, speculation with zero evidence (like what Mike Florio dropped) always leads to rampant misinformation. Rumor after rumor, and oftentimes people’s reputations get irreparably damaged in the process.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Hope it’s not a CTE issue or mental health issue. Look what happened to Doug Martin. Kind of scary that no one that knows is talking.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
LUKE GOEDEKE IS OUT FOR THE SEASON!!!!
Remember when that was the “real inside scoop”.
Guess what? He’s back. The rumors were wrong.
Wed-Thu insider rumors are hot garbage. It’s the new clickbate.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Yeah, Todd has had more than enough time to get his defense back to being fully rebuilt by now. VERY disappointing. More than enough time. There’s been enough talent there, but WHO is in-charge of drafting and signing talent… BOTH, JL and TB. They’ve totally wasted the talent on this team and now, even the players themselves, appear to be stuck in some type of a malaise. If this continues, it’s going to be time, to start-over fresh. I mean, wholesale changes must be made THIS off-season. I hope the owners/FO is already preparing for it… Better be ready to make a move on a ‘top-tier’ Head Coach. And, give him control over the roster, by allowing HIM to keep who HE wants, to ‘sign’ who HE wants, and then to move OFF guys (a lot of fans will be uncomfortable with). It just is what it IS. It’s a BUSINESS. I just hope they REALLY wanna WINNNNN. And, willing to do whatever it TAKES, by making the TOUGH decisions.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
Seriously I already couldn’t stand Florio for doing this kind of thing regularly. Unfortunately, now the real information needs to come out so the speculation doesn’t spiral out of control—and if you go looking, it already has. Some people are calling him a “religious nut” because of a cryptic post about being “nailed to a cross.” Others are saying he’s having mental issues, showing up at the practice facility at 3 a.m. and having strange meetings with “old men.” I’m not even kidding—this is exactly why I hate this kind of rumor‑driven chaos.
It went from “He’s hurt; obviously there’s something not being discussed hes more i jured than there letting on” to everyone insisting it’s just shoulder and ankle issues, so we were all expected to just go with that. Everyone knew that explanation was questionable, but at least there weren’t “official” rumors coming from “journalists.” Now, unfortunately, the actual information needs to be released so things don’t continue to get out of hand—especially since the people with the actual knowledge have admitted there is more to the story than what’s been reported.
This has completely ruined any journalistic integrity behind not letting the information out…
November 20th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Praying for the Young Buc!
November 20th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Honestly, I don’t understand why this has so many people, all bent outta shape. I don’t see what the big deal is with ANY of this!? Really, WHO cares!? He’ll play when he plays. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t. It is what it is. If Joe knows a “SECRET” – again, WHO CARES. Same with Florio… Couldn’t care LESS. He’ll play if and when HE’s ready to play. If he doesn’t, then he’s only hurting himself (and maybe Todd Bowles). It’s just really NOT a ‘big-deal’ for ANY of us. Doesn’t matter either way! It is what it is, and it will always be. I guess, I’ve just never been a ‘jealous’ person then… Cause, it doesn’t bother me at ALL, if/when ‘others’ have some type of inside information that I am not privy to, or knows something that I don’t. And, I don’t sit around worrying about, or really given much thought about Bucky’s (or any one-player’s) injury status. So, yeah… I just can’t see the big issue or problem here.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
Then, “Bucky” HIM-frickin-SELF needs to address it. He can do it if he wants to. Nobody’s preventing him from doing so. If, he’s that damn worried about it. He’s a grown-ass MAN.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
Maybe… and just spitballing here… that hip-drop tackle that caused the initial injury on Bucky and it wasn’t flagged (not even sure the Eagle player who did it was fined) has scared Bucky into just simply NOT wanting to play football. Too many players getting injured while the NFL owners refuse to invest in natural grass on all fields, refuse to give teams an extra bye week while adding on additional regular season games AND refuse to increase the old and outdated 53-man roster size to properly substitute players as “load management” or whatever you want to call it.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Someone on Instagram posted a video of Bucky walking alone on Riverwalk.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
Maybe, if he was Jonathan Taylor, I would probably think about it a little more often… Probably. Idk!? Injury status is just not something that gets me all that bent up outta shape over. Cause, it just is what it is. Unless, it’s ‘someone’ being paid A LOT of $$$$ that’s destroying the team’s salary cap because of it! But, that’s an entirely different situation.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Kayla wow I agree with much of your comment, Godwin iss not coming back–he is not going to be competetive if he does come back. We do not need to know what is wrong with Bucky but it is season ending likely. Jalen McMillan broke his neck and is likely worried about it and not in a hurry to put his life on the line. I think the only way Bowles is gone is if he loses the South and tthat is very possible. I think we have no future with Bowles. Panthers are good and whether I want it or not they are very likely to win the NFC South.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
@Melvin Junior-
Oh yeah there was nothing malicious about what Booger said. Just some including myself initially hit the panic button when I first heard about it and it was just simply that…a mixup. So I’m trying not to put my trigger finger on the panic button just yet.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
just add to my comment above, I want the Bucs to win versus Panthers andd win the South, I would like to get rid of Todd Bowles, he surrendered last week to the Bills, I cannot abide by that.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
“Here lies Bucky Irving. I’d rather be living in Philadelphia” – WC Fields(not)
November 20th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
Does he have what Aaron Sears had? He was a promising guard that had to retire very early. I think Brian Price also had CTE issues that caused him to do questionable things. Praying for Bucky, and hope he’s okay.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Wonder if this is the same reasoning behind Richard Sherman saying Bucs are not a top team because of something he knows that’s going on in the org
November 20th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
it could be a ped suspension they are trying to keep quiet , they already had another rb get one
November 20th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
This crap is getting ridiculous.
November 20th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
I would like to speculate here too. BI7 received several credible death threats to himself and/or members of his family if he didn’t shave points/yards during games. Apparently these threats have been deemed very serious by law enforcement. In an effort to protect him and his family he is being held out of games by the team.
November 20th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
Well, this is interesting. Two days ago there was an Instagram post of some random dude riding a bike along the river walk and he slowed down and said
“Bucky Irving!”
Because Bucky was jogging, looking perfectly fine, healthy, & happy.
He said hi to the guy, was very nice.
The guy asked “Are you going to be back this week?”
Bucky smiled and said “I don’t know” as he jogged off
November 20th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Tell us what’s going on with Bucky, Joe…
We want to know…
Of course someone is going to put it out there for likes and ratings…
It’s not going to stay under wraps for long in this current world we live in…
Florio had a big day today with his shenannies…
Someone spill the beans…
Is it another Doug Martin or Freeman type thingerooski…?
#PrayersUpForBucky
November 20th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Jalen McMillan’s career is possibly over from serious injury. Evans is gonna retire same with Godwin. All you got is Edbuka. I have no issue losing out and getting good draft spots.
November 20th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Was he on Epstein Island? Thank you Florio for inviting click bait.
November 20th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
This team is gonna get drilled on Sunday night
November 20th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
If it was illegal issue, you think the league would be involved by now
November 20th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
I thought the media was here to report facts. Why even talk about it on air if all there going to say well I can’t say anything now . Then shut up and keep it to yourself or say what u know stop hiding behind a source. I’m not saying you have to out your source or anything else but don’t mention it on live TV if you’re not going to talk about it just dumb
November 20th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
Bigger question is is how is florio getting inside or information about a team that you guys covered daily???
November 20th, 2025 at 7:38 pm
This is probably what Richard Sherman was referring to when he said, “I know some things….”
November 20th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
@ Lambchop, good call! He did say that.
November 20th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
As to what Ron Potter said:
Has anyone seen that weird baseball thing where the catcher CAN’T throw the ball back to the pitcher anymore? Weird tics like that are a thing
November 20th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
There’s been mental health rumors swirling for weeks about this. Why Florio would broadcast this speaks to him as a person. Typical Bs click bait that he’s known for. Way to respect a man’s privacy – especially when the organization is going at lengths to protect him from outside judgment.
November 20th, 2025 at 8:23 pm
If it’s on some goofy ish get rid of him asap, make Sean the starter and resign White at the end of the season. Ain’t got time for Bucky injury prone arse n any other problem he has. Probably why he doing all that praying on instagram
November 20th, 2025 at 8:38 pm
If he’s not back, then why isn’t he on IR? This whole thing is dumb.
November 20th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Also to the Tucker truthers, you watching the Texans run the ball at will vs the Bills? Everyone does that. This is like people who saw Nelson have a big game vs the Saints and then thought he suddenly became a HOF’er overnight.
Tucker, like Keyshawn Vaughn, can have a big game now and again, and if he has huge holes to run through, he can do that – doesn’t mean he’s more than a backup. But, lets see what he does vs the Rams, a much better rush defense, and maybe he proves me wrong. He did, legit, on Sunday have a run I thought was really impressive where he made two good cuts – it only went for like 12 yards and most people didn’t notice it, but it was legit the best run I’ve ever seen him make – so maybe he has leveled up. We shall see. Not rooting against him, but can’t stand the dummies always calling for the backups when there is a reason they’re the backup.
November 20th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
IR can be extremely isolating for a player. If it’s mental health related, then they want him with his friends and the team.
November 20th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
OK folks….Bucky practiced Wed & Thursday….what do you make of that?
November 20th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
It’s like the Schiano days all over with the MRSA. Hope the story breaks so people don’t speculate that it’s drugs or something like that. We already have 1 running back on suspension for using stuff he wasn’t.
November 20th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Income please that sounds very plausible given the evidence. And scary.
November 20th, 2025 at 10:01 pm
Licht picks injury prone players in every draft, evert year so the numbers
Trade for proven player s w little injury incidents. ⁸
November 20th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Jorge?????
It’s not an injury. His ankle is fine now. And he’s just about over the shoulder with limited practicing. There’s something else going on. It was a “non-football issue“
I can’t stand people who say someone’s injury prone… Mike Evans hamstring is injury prone.
Getting your ankle rolled up on is not being “injury prone.”
Getting your leg broke like Godwin is not “injury prone.”
November 20th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
P.E.D.S. ?
November 20th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Sounds like he found Mons V and is loving So Ho like Freeman and Camarda
November 20th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Garbage coaching, failing GM, injury prone, lack of transparency, Bucs have become a mystery and lack any direction. wtf happened to this franchise.
November 20th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
If he was a detriment to the team he wouldn’t be in the building.
If he was still really hurting he wouldn’t be on the practice field.
It def sounds like some sort of mental thing. I would imagine that florio is making it sound like it’s bigger than it is and also like he has huge inside info since that’s his shtick. Not saying that he doesn’t have info…he obviously does, but you gotta push your brand in his business.
If the team thought Bucky was done, they’d have shut him down for another player. Same as with Luke.
November 20th, 2025 at 11:29 pm
Some of you people are ridiculous. Joe is doing a great job reporting this. I come here for news, commentary, and opinion. If Joe didn’t report on things like this I’d get my Bucs news from somewhere else. If you all don’t want to read it then get your sanitized, milquetoast news from the official Buccaneers web site.
November 20th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
Don’t tell them, joe.
Florio needs to shut is trap.
It’s personal and private. And his claim that he may not return this year is out of line. That’s Bucky’s decision, depending on some things.
November 20th, 2025 at 11:46 pm
Buccingator Says
“P.E.D.S. ?”
Not even close…but peope will assume something like that because of Florio’s big mouth.
Florio himself said it shouldn’t be put out there. Private and personal. He should not have even mentioned it.
November 20th, 2025 at 11:50 pm
Rod Munch, been thinking the same thing all week.
I hope he’s taking that step though.
November 21st, 2025 at 2:14 am
The team has handled injuries very stupidly this year with all these guessing games and bringing guys back earlier than they should like they did with Godwin.
Man o hope Bucky is ok hopefully Tucker keeps ballin out.
November 21st, 2025 at 2:49 am
If the Bucs knew about this issue the whole time, why all the cloak and dagger coverup acting like it was the shoulder. I guess this explains why there was no IR.
November 21st, 2025 at 5:23 am
Or, there’s Occam’s Razor.
Bucky has a nasty shoulder injury.
Bowles+ feels confident we’ll win the NFC South, so load up the healthy talent for AFTER Thanksgiving to give the Bucs the best chance to go on a Super Bowl run.
Seems like a reasonable strategy to me.
#relax
November 21st, 2025 at 7:33 am
In response to florio, beat writer says it is a mental health thing and that the Bucs believe he’s close to returning but not this week, via X. Also disputed the “anytime soon” comment from MF.
Sounds about right to me.
November 21st, 2025 at 7:54 am
My guess is he got a second opinion on his ankle or shoulder and is choosing to go with the advice of non team doctors. Probably some sort of internal conflict over that. If it were mental health we’d know about it. Plenty of players have been on leave for mental health and it’s made public by the team. They can’t just say someone has an ankle injury knowing it’s a totally different reason.
November 21st, 2025 at 8:12 am
If Bucky is not going to play this season as reported by some, why the hell is he on the active roster and practicing either the team the last two weeks. This team is a joke!!
November 21st, 2025 at 9:21 am
Another Bust by Licht??? Bucky The Bust or Bucky The Beast??? Time will tell.
November 21st, 2025 at 9:48 am
I just remember Bucky’s SM post right after injury happened being a bit weird and from way outta left field. It all seemed like more to it from some angle since that post. And does make you wonder if/when he gets injured again, what kind of SM post and amplified reaction that will be.
November 21st, 2025 at 9:53 am
“You don’t hate the media enough. You think you do, but you don’t.”
November 21st, 2025 at 9:55 am
A source of mine told me that Bucky was caught with Todd Bowles wife. I cannot reveal my source just yet. Study tuned
November 21st, 2025 at 10:11 am
This whole season and situation surrounding the team is really turning me off. I’ve been a Bucs fan my entire life, but between the officiating, this new era of “we have information but can’t tell you,” and watching Todd “Toilet” Bowles’ defense, I’m just about done. After nearly 30 years of watching, I’m seriously considering focusing on my other hobbies instead. At least until hes not the head coach anymore, I keep telling myself you love the game! But truth is its not the game I fell in love with anymore and we’re just one more straw on the camel’s back from breaking it for me…
November 21st, 2025 at 10:13 am
What non-football things would make it risky for a team to put a player on the field for a game? Drugs and/or gambling. That’s the obvious speculation from the broadcast innuendo. Responsible journalism? Reckless attention-getting device?
November 21st, 2025 at 10:25 am
So we’ve got the Druggernaut 2.0?
Cool.
What an implosion this season has been
November 21st, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Kinda makes sense. We always stop at Buckey’s when in the interstate, and they have some really good nuts. Cut the nut job
November 21st, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Is this what Larry Fitzgerald was talking about? Is it insubordination? Is it gambling? I can’t imagine Bucky doing anything detrimental to the team. We may never know what’s going on. The bucs curse continues?
As always Go Bucs
November 22nd, 2025 at 8:35 am
death of family/friend(s) back home. chicago nonsense. be respectful.
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:45 pm
Good Blowes is great with his players building character and stuff. What a shame.
November 23rd, 2025 at 7:21 am
Interesting that when you google “Bucky Irving controversy” one of the results you get is that that Irving has suffered “losses” within his family which affected his support system. So, if I’m being sidelined due to an injury which I’m having difficulties recovering from and I ALSO suffered emotional losses due to any sort of family tragedy, I would be far from 100% myself and it would take me that much longer to recover from any injury.
Recovery is as much mental as it is physical. If Bucky is not in a good place mentally, he needs the time to get there. Leave him be. A family loss is serious. Too many people here get their mortgage payment on these games and it shows.