Bucky Irving Had Offseason Shoulder Surgery
February 16th, 2026
Listeners to the Ira Kaufman Podcast and the JoeBucsFan Show on WDAE radio heard this discussed last week, but now Joe is typing it up for the record.
Bucs running back Bucky Irving missed seven consecutive games last season — Weeks 5 through 12 — with ankle and shoulder injuries. Per in-season comments from the Bucs, the ankle healed before the shoulder did.
And now it seems the shoulder was never quite right. Irving had offseason shoulder surgery, JoeBucsFan.com has learned.
Recovery and rehab are not expected to significantly impact his offseason preparation.
What those post-surgery specifics look like should get clarity when head coach Todd Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht hold news conferences next week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
With Rachaad White repeatedly telling the world he’s not returning to the Bucs, replacing White with a quality running back in free agency seems more urgent given Irving’s situation.
Irving had a rough time mentally after getting injured in Week 4 against the Eagles. Bowles acknowledged weeks later that Irving had challenges dealing with what was his first-ever significant injury. It’s fair now to speculate that perhaps Irving was told then he eventually would need surgery, and that reality was difficult.
February 16th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Time to pit on the Big Boy pants. Get another RB just in case. No Big Deal. We need Pass Defense Help urgently! That is all that matters this Off-Season.
February 16th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
I’m sure he was also frustrated with the crappy blocking from our guards and the significant play calling drop off from Coen.
Heal up, work hard, keep your head down.
February 16th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
I can’t wait to hear another Todd Bowles press conference, where no one will put him on the spot to explain why his pass defense is so great, why the team always has a mid season swoon only to recover to that daunting .500ish record, and why he won’t change anything about how he operates the team.
February 16th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
White averaged half a yard more per carry than Bucky. When you are Buck size and asked to run in between the tackles your mind will make you ease up subconsciously to avoid the associated pain.
If Love is still there at 15 he is the pick. Love looks like a generational talent at RB and that is a good thing.
February 16th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
What looks even worse, is that when Buck came back week 13 he got 113 touches in 6 games with a shoulder that could’ve popped back out of the socket at any point.
102 rushes, 351 yards(3.4 yards a touch), and 1 score in the ground game
Add catching 11 passes for 84 yards and 1 score as a receiver.
113 touches, 435 yards, and 2 scores in 6 games.
Some ya’ll are still calling Grizzard a scapegoat, this is proof of bad personnel/workload management.
Bucky had more touches in the 6 games he came back for than Tucker had being available all 17 games. literally had twice as many touches on the ground as Tucker, but only being available for 7 less games.
41 more touches than Rachaad, only to gain 16 more yards on the season than White, yet even with 41 less touches White rushed for 10 more first downs than Bucky behind the same reserves on the same OL.
Grizz was trash
February 16th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
At least he didn’t wait til training camp to get it done.
February 16th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Apparently injuries did a number on the Bucs offense plus hiring Grazard with no play calling experience was even a bigger obstacle for the players to play to their potential. 2026 is shaping up for a much improved Buc offense. GO BUCS
February 16th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Grizz (the so called “fall guy ) screwed the pooch on RB usage. Just rewatched the Seattle game and RW was a beast. I understand why he was pissed – he was the ” hot hand” and Grizz put him back on the shelf as soon as Bucky could play again.
If he really does (RW) walk he’ll be VERY difficult to replace. He’s turned into a punishing runner in addition to his pass catching and blocking prowess.
February 16th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Big surprise – a 5’10” – 190 lb. running back is injury prone…
LOL!
Perhaps that is why the Bucs were able to draft him in late round four.
Why are the Bucs management so retarded?
February 16th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
the breece hall scenario is quite an interesting prospect…
why not upgrade the room, with bucky actually being a big question mark this upcoming season…
and rachaad on the lamb…
bucky is really not built for what the bucs want out of him…
and i was lobbying on here for breece hall out of college…but i think we passed on him twice…
the thing so appealing about hall is he is that quintessential “bowling ball” style running back
February 16th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
I have said this already and will say it again. He is not a RB1 in the NFL. And it has NOTHING to do with talent. Hes a smaller back there is no way he can be a bell cow. No one can argue this now. His first full season and he missed half of it. We need to draft a guy or two for sure with White leaving.
February 16th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Combine had him at 5’9″ Marine. NFL combine analysis had him pegged as backup and or special teams. If Love is there at 15 he must be drafted.
February 16th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
nfl realities:
5’10” 190 is really…….5’8 & 3/8ths…/and 176 pds 🙂
February 16th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
For the right deal White will come back. $3Mill is more than he will attract from another team. Would like to see Rachaad featured in Zac Robinson offense.
February 16th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Well, seems Bucky is using a different set of doctors than Wirfs did with the let’s wait till mini camp. Good for Bucky!
February 16th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Bucky shouldn’t have come back.
White and Tucker should have finished the season.
February 16th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Todd Says:
February 16th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Combine had him at 5’9″ Marine. NFL combine analysis had him pegged as backup and or special teams. If Love is there at 15 he must be drafted.
=================================
Agree about Love but think he will be gone in top 8. He might be the most attractive player in the entire draft. Behind him is Arvell Reece and Sonny Styles. Need to move up to have a shot at Love and or Styles. Don’t think Licht has the guts to move up. It is going to take our 2026 #1 and #2. Would pull the trigger to move up to #10 if trading partner would throw in a 5th round pick.
February 16th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
We need to keep Shawn Tucker sign a veteran running back.
Bucky is undependable. Being mentally tough is more important than just about anything in the NFL.
He failed that test big time!
February 16th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Get Breece Hall or Tyler Algier if you can’t. Too many holes to fill with draft picks and FA RBs with proven skills are not heavy on the salary cap. If they don’t get a DT,LB or edge with first picks someone else should be put in charge. I personally think they should add 2 FA edge players because TB cannot develop one at all.lots of quality DTs in the draft but not so many really good LBs.
February 16th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
i’m all about bringing back good ole reliable RB1…
rachaad white…
yes he can thrive in a zac robinson offense…
if you don’t have the spendatures to drop on breece hall, get white back in the building…
his feelings are hurt…
if you want him back, make him feel good lol
February 16th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
bucky played on a shoulder that needed surgery on a team with a bad oline . i would say he has mental toughness
February 16th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
Bucky you can do it baby, I had noon in 2022 when I had an operation on my lower back that failed. My daughter saved me from losing it all and being forced out in the streets. Even after a second surgery going the same way, I guess my body won’t heal properly so I’m dealing with it. Pain sucks but I can’t change the fact..
February 16th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Yup more carries he should have had double the carries more more more. No need to keep our guys healthy and distribute the ball better.just run them til they are done. Brilliant. I’m sure somebody in this here website asked our oc and he just wasn’t concerned. Predictable. Bowles Bowles Bowles Bowles.
February 16th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
“Don’t think Licht has the guts to move up.”
He’s got a brain. Nevermind needing a willing trade partner to pass on a top 10 talent, but the comp it’d take which would certainly mean losing .
Not moving up for Bain, or Bailey, but a damn RB.
Go search up a Jimmie Johnson trade value calculator or any draft trade Calculator.
Our pick at 15 is valued at 1050 points by Jimmie Johnson’s value chart. The lowest value on a top 10 pick is 1300, which belongs to Cincy. 9th overall is KC with 1350 pt value and 8th is New Orleans at 1400 pts.
Our Pick Value:
1st/15th = 1050pts
2nd/46th = 440pts
3rd/79th = 195 pts
4th/116th = 42pt
5th/153rd = 30.2pts
6th/193rd = 13.8pts
7th/229th = 1 pt
Licht having “guts” would likely mean we miss out making our 2nd/3rd pick in the top 100 players, to draft a running back while also passing on player at position we’d probably be better suited having a 5th year option on.
It sounds good, until you use your brain Gipper. You really are addicted to bad decisions and I total get that fueling your “love” for Baker Mayfield
February 16th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Why are these losers back again? Licht and Bowles are fing dumb as rocks.
Tom Brady is the only reason these two bozos have jobs.
The glazers are garbage owners. No more corporate welfare for any sports teams.
February 16th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Bowles should have put him on IR.
This explains a lot.
February 16th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
With the OL suffering so many injuries, a lot of offensive weapons were getting hurt.
February 16th, 2026 at 6:19 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
“Our Pick Value:
1st/15th = 1050pts
2nd/46th = 440pts
3rd/79th = 195 pts
4th/116th = 42pt
5th/153rd = 30.2pts
6th/193rd = 13.8pts
7th/229th = 1 pt”
You do know they never actually use point systems when they make trades, right? That’s a media thing, not a reality thing.
February 16th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
This team needs huge help in the FA. Why do I feel that hope is wasted on this team? Let me count the ways.
Sigh.
February 16th, 2026 at 7:57 pm
“You do know they never actually use point systems when they make trades, right? That’s a media thing, not a reality thing.“
It was literally created by Mike McCoy a minority owner of the Cowboys at the time & Jimmie Johnson, then head coach of the Cowboys around about 1990.
It’s still referenced in NFL draft circles and the model has been updated and still used in regards to a having point system to help aid the decision making process determining the trade value of draft picks.
February 16th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Thank You Todd for running Rashaad White out of town. Another brilliant move by our wonderful coach.
February 16th, 2026 at 8:46 pm
Man it really seems like the Bucs don’t have any clue on managing players injuries.
February 16th, 2026 at 9:10 pm
Rachaad White was a perfectly good RB….why did we run him off?
February 16th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Anyone remember ol’ Gotti Dog saying a shoulder subluxation usually requires surgery and that even when he comes back Irving would not be willing or able to perform as he did prior to the injury??……..Pepperidge Farm remembers
February 16th, 2026 at 9:27 pm
i could see the running back room taking a big step back this year for some reason…
a lot of other areas on the team must be addressed…
meaning they can get a bit lax with the rb room this year and patch it back up in 2027…
meaning they’ll let bucky be the prime back, and cross their fingers about his rebuilt shoulder…good luck with that – all an rb does is lead into contact with his shoulders…
then there is tuck, and they’ll either add some nondescript guy, or go with one of the other 2 from last year, who were on and off the roster and PS all year …
it’s weird, because the one simple resigning of white, gives us one of the best rb rooms in the nfl…
yet without him, and without another key signing, we become maybe the most suspect rb room in the nfl…
and if bucky can’t rock on thru the full season – boy oh boy do we have a problem with no white, and no bucky……with tuck and some no names, or scrap heap guys, or a latter round rookie they’re over hyping, just trying to pull the weight and protect baker and open up the passing offense….houston we could have a serious problem due to the lack of resigning RB1 = rachaad white
February 17th, 2026 at 12:12 am
More genius is on the way. Todd is going to demand even more versatility out of his offensive personnel, like his defense. The OLinemen will be expected to practice passing and catching, quarterbacks will snap, wide receivers will punt, running backs will be in three point stances on the line. Confusion is the key.
February 17th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
They should bring in a vet like Brian Robinson Jr. in case they don’t get someone on day 3. IMO he has some of the highest upside without the cost. I like Tyler Allgeier and Breece Hall better but they will cost more and want to sign somewhere they will be a rb1.
February 17th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Bucky needs more mass, Small frys get banged up ,Jk dobbins,