Todd Bowles Expects Bucky Irving Back Sometime “In The Summer Or The Fall”
May 26th, 2026
Timeline changing?
At the combine, a Bucs source told Joe there is nothing to worry about with Bucky Irving’s shoulder. He would be fine and ready to go for training camp.
When Zac Robinson cast a shadow of doubt on Bucky’s timeline, Joe again was told Bucky will be full-go for training camp.
Well, Joe cannot ignore the following since it came straight out of the mouth of KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles this afternoon after the first OTA practice open to the local pen and mic club.
Bucky was in street clothes watching practice from the sideline. When Bowles was asked about Bucky, here is what he said:
“He’s come along fine,” Bowles said. “He’s working out. He’s rough. We expect him sometime back in the summer or the fall, and you know, we’ll look forward to him when he gets back.”
The fall?
Joe was told it was unlikely Bucky would be ready to work out fully at the beginning of OTAs. And Joe was also told the time Bucky would miss — and be ready for training camp — was the normal recuperation from the shoulder surgery he had.
Now, Bowles suggested the timeline for a return could be the fall?
Technically, fall begins on Sept. 22 this year. However, most people consider fall to be Labor Day Weekend. Still others consider fall to be the start of football season. And others consider the start of fall when the first NFL regular-season kickoff takes place.
Football coaches may consider fall the beginning of training camp (in part because summer ends for football coaches and players when camp begins).
So Joe is allowing Bowles some wiggle room here in what he may consider fall.
Feel free to do the math. Bucky will either be ready to hit the practice fields behind One Buc Palace for training camp or maybe not until early in the regular season.
As Joe has typed and spoken on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” many times, the Bucs got and paid Kenneth Gainwell for a reason.
May 26th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Here we go!
The Bucs medical and training staff absolutely suck. ?? It’s May 26. –Joe
Ever since the Jensen fiasco, ever summer there is a medical issue that this staff just cant seem to figure out. Guess it’s Bucky’s year.
I’ve been saying for years that this medical/training staff needs to be looked at and upgraded.
May 26th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
J.R. Sweezy
May 26th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
What in the world? The fall?
I have to agree with the comments on the Bucs training staff. Last year they had no idea on timelines – and it wasn’t just coaches giving bad timelines since guys clearly should have went on IR and yet were kept active. No coach is keeping a guy on the active roster for 7 weeks while they’re injured as some sort of advantage. If there’s more insight on that, beyond the training staff being clueless, I’d love to know what it is.
May 26th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
“Bucs medical and training staff absolutely suck.”
This is the same shoulder injury Bucky didn’t disclose to them until week 4 & 5?
How TF is a medical staff supposed to prevent a slipped shoulder or make it better?
May 26th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Seriously now I understand why they brought in Gainwell for 14 mill for 2 years who keeps screwing up these injuries This better be Precaution measures only an not set backs with him being a RB an taking Alot of hits in his Shoulder I’m sure it is
May 26th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Wow. We are seriously the most paper-mache team in the whole league. Good god. I am surprised he isn’t going to have voluntary surgery in July.
May 26th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Bucky is # 17 Bucs all-time with 1710 yards
Baker is # 23 Bucs all-time with 923 yards
Tucker is # 34 with 651
Rachaad White was # 10 with 2656
Bucky is replaceable
May 26th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
He’s done as a starter. His rookie season was fun though. Not For Long.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
After last season, the Buc’s signed KG!! They will have a great starting RB one way or another!! Throw in Sean Tucker and that room is set!! IMO.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Baffles me they didn’t draft a rb
May 26th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Remember Carl nicks
May 26th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Why rush Bucky with Gainwell signed and Tucker staying with the team? Even if Bucky misses a couple games, we are in good shape and this give Bucky fresh legs deep into the season.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
There’s a reason they gave Kenny some decent money. Tuckers time to shine, or someone else needs to step up. I bet they bring in another back before camp. Buckys shoulder is long term. It takes a year from first surgery if all goes well to get to 100%. Shoulders take time.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Joe says it May 26th..missing your point on how that’s relevant to the amount of injuries, botched surgeries or lack thereof..guess it’s all roses and rainbows when it comes to the medical staff Coaches take blame, GMs take blame, players take blame..guess there’s never a need to reevaluate how the training and medical staff have done over the past few years.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
this is the reason they got gainwell, never mind buckys mental health
May 26th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Warren says:
This is the same shoulder injury Bucky didn’t disclose until week 4 or 5…
So this injury has been known since October of last year. Here we sit 8 months later and now they’re saying he will be ready in the summer or fall???
There’s the problem. It’s not preventing ot from happening, it’s identifying the injury and then fixing it.
Wirfs knee was not surgically repaired until the week before camp last year. Ridiculous
May 26th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Careful now. Bowles is the same guy that said he liked the effort of the defense last year.
I wouldn’t exactly take his word on anything meaningful, outside of the ability to eat 50 KitKat bars in one sitting.
Todd says Bucky will be ready by this fall??? I’m guessing his career is close to done.
Perhaps we could have drafted a RB instead of a no name WR from a third rate college.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Trade him