Bucky Irving Is Not Ready To Practice
May 12th, 2026
A bit of an injury update today at One Buc Palace.
New Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Zac Robinson was talking about his unit and shared how he believes Bucky Irving is a do-it-all running back that might need to be saved from himself at times, meaning his snaps have to monitored to keep him healthy.
But Robinson then noted he will learn more about Irving later. “Obviously, we’re missing him right now,” Robinson said.
Joe reported three-plus months ago that Irving had offeseason surgery on a bad shoulder that affected him last season. So it seems he’s not yet ready to run around in underwear football/spring practices without pads. Details of Irving’s surgery have not been shared publicly. Joe knows Irving has been at One Buc Palace in recent weeks rehabbing and participating in the Bucs’ offseason program.
Initially, Joe was told Irving’s injury would not have a significant effect on his offseason prep. Hopefully, that’s still the case.
May 12th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Good thing we signed Gainwell. Some guys are just never the same after they suffer an injury. Really starting to question/worry about Bucky’s ability to stay healthy. Go Bucs!!
May 12th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
It’s a bit early TbT since it’s his first and only major injury. Here’s to hoping you are wrong and he comes back the same determined Bucky we’ve come to love!
May 12th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
This will affect him getting and securing the ball. And obviously on the other end, being tackled. Yes, let it heal completely. If last year is any indication, he really lets it get in his head when he’s injured. Hopefully he’s past all that.
May 12th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Man I hope Bucky gets better mentally and physically, he brings so much energy to the team.
Also Joe, the quirky things you say always make me smile a bit even on bad days. One Buc Palace lol (despite the F ranking the facilities got from the players owners review).
May 12th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Hope he comes back 100%. Hope he didn’t break his body beyond repair.
May 12th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
“Joe reported three-plus months ago that Irving had offeseason surgery on a bad shoulder that affected him last season.”
The same shoulder they didn’t find out about until he hurt his ankle against Philly.
So when you think of when Bucky got back and how Grizzard used him, it makes the application look even worse.
Hope Irving heels up, and is ready to share when he comes back because that bell cow stuff is not for him.
May 12th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Guarantee we are drafting a RB in the 2027 draft.
Right after we draft our next QB of course.
Bucky can be great but needs to get healthy.
A power back is likely the best move next season.
Also, please fire Bowles after 2026.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”
–Me, every time I think about Bucky Irving’s future with the Bucs.
(And God, do I hope I’m wrong… Like, really wrong)
May 12th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Bucs training and medical up to the challenge once again. With their expertise, he’ll be wearing a walking boot in September as a result of overcompensating for shoulder rehab, and then have a second surgery on the shoulder in late October.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
Bucky should’ve been benched last year
There’s no excuses for him not being benched
He reminds me of Cadillac Williams, and his great rookie season
I’m not sure the Bucs are sold on Bucky
They didn’t spent $10 million on Tucker and Gainwell to watch Bucky suck
I’m good with Tucker and Gainwell
May 12th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Shoulder surgery requires more time to heal unless it’s just to clean something but even then it’s tricky. There are so many different moving parts and functions.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
im sure the same sources told joe Mauch would be 100% ready to go lol
whats the “news” on him?
GO BUCS!!!!
May 12th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
“im sure the same sources told joe Mauch would be 100% ready to go lol
whats the “news” on him?”
Mauch said via another site that follows the Bucs that he’s been healed up since January, which is believable given his injury happened in September:
“Rehab was good, it’s just such a slow and boring, monotonous process. Rehab’s not fun. You feel like you’re hardly making progress and then you finally start to. Long story short, everything’s all healed up now, [I’m] excited for offseason stuff to start next week. I should be good for OTAs.”
-Cody Mauch
May 12th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
I’ll never forget that game where Rachaad had a 20-yard run and after that, they kept giving the ball to Bucky over and over, although he was doing very little. It still irks me.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
Gainwell got $14M – $7M per year to sign with the Bucs.
That’s definitely NOT ‘back up’money at the RB position.
Tucker got $3.5M as a RFA to re-sign with the Bucs. That’s high end ‘back up’ edging into low end starter money.
Seems to me that the Bucs are not counting on Bucky to be their main RB this year. Their words might say something like that – but their actions of putting $10.5M into securing Bucky’s ‘competition’ this year are telling…..
If Irving does somehow wind up with the lion’s share of carries in 2026 – it will be because he earned it and coaches didn’t want to take him off the field.
We’ve all seen how explosive Bucky Irving can be when he’s feeling it – lets just hope we get to see a LOT of that this year. Which would give the Buccaneers one of the most dynamic RB rooms in the whole league!
I’m already quite sure Gainwell is going to be really, really good in this offense – a definite upgrade over White!
If the OLine stays healthy – I expect a top 5 ranking this year in overall Running Back production.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Sounds like Sean Tucker needs to brush up those blitz pick up skills so he can actually get in the game.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Really he’s not ready to run around like n underwear football practice with no contact after 3 months. Kinda crazy.
May 12th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
Pickgrin. I agree with most of what you said but what makes you think gainswell is an upgrade over white ? White was deff one of the better backs receiving out of the backfield
May 12th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
“I’ll never forget that game where Rachaad had a 20-yard run and after that, they kept giving the ball to Bucky over and over, although he was doing very little. It still irks me.”
The last ATL game!
Chaad had 1 carry for 20 yards compared to Bucky having 16 carries for 60
Grizzard was terrible.
May 12th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
White was also a ferocious blocker. Another top Buc who had seen enough of the Bowleszo Show.
May 12th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
I think the headline says it all. Just let us know when he is ready.
May 12th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
WBL
lol..what else would you expect him to say?..”I really dont know how my knee will respond until we start hitting”
it all sounds good until the pads come on…
this staff said Optea and Jensen were all healed up and ready to go as well….look how that turned out
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 12th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Say his name.over and over and over again. Rachaad White. Do we have any blockers in the backfield? The Redskins got a bargain.
May 12th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
#1bucsfan Says:
“what makes you think gainswell is an upgrade over white ?”
Rashaad White – 2025 –
Rushing – 572 yards on 132 attempts – 4.3 ypc – 4 TDs
Receiving – 218 yards from 40 receptions – 5.4 ypc – 0 TDs
Kenneth Gainwell – 2025
Rushing – 537 yards on 114 attempts – 4.7 ypc – 5 TDs
Receiving – 486 yards from 73 receptions – 6.7 ypc – 3 TDs
May 12th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
“this staff said Optea and Jensen were all healed up and ready to go as well….look how that turned out”
This isn’t the staff saying it though, it’s Mauch himself. They’re going to let him try to earn a new contract.
Cody tore a meniscus which has 3-6 month recovery window. Mauch is about 7 months post-op.
Jensen tore his MCL, PCL, ACL, meniscus and fractured his tibia all at once. The folly was expecting him back about 6 months later for a Jan playoff game the same year
May 12th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Pick, u ask about an upgrade then post Gainwells #’s which are better. That is known as an upgrade??????? wow just 4 td’s compared to 8…….u guessed it, an UPGRADE! some peps…
May 12th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
WBL
my point is, you cant take his word for it since he hasnt gone thru a full work load of practice….
knee injuries can linger…i expect him to sit out most of TC
GO BUCS!!!!
May 12th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Sean Tucker, RB1
May 12th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
The Gainwell stunt double situation starting to make more sense.
May 12th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Gainwell is the best pick up for the Bucs since Brady! He brings toughness from the afc north and mike Tomlin So he knows Stefanski, Hesplayed behind jaylen hurts and the eagles tow great organizations ! He can catch the deep ball and take a screen to the house ! Hes durable to boot ,Runs thru takles and over people ! Perfect addition for baker! Its gonna be fun ! Go Bucs! Absolutely no comparison to White
May 12th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Gainwell got an upgrade of a better O line, QB and receivers. Pittsburgh offense was putrid but he had some solid numbers. He will better here.
May 12th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
bucky was never injured till last season, he may not handle it well
May 12th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
He should have sat out last season.
We should have gone with Rashad (his contract year) and Tucker. A capable back.
Bucky should have been put on IR last year.
Very dumb mistake by coaching staff.
May 12th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Sean Tucker should be the primary back. Bucky and Gainwell are essentially the same back and neither has the build to be the primary back.
May 12th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
Hated to see Rashaad walk because he was so versatile, but he developed a major attitude and became another victim of the Grizzard experiment. Poor Josh was just lost.
Gainwell certainly seems like an upgrade and Tucker’s blocking has improved. Tucker has good hands too. I hope that ZR has a good plan for these two — especially Tucker. Sean is the kind of RB that improves with quality touches. He’s strong, steady and not prone to injury.
May 12th, 2026 at 7:57 pm
Bucs will have to pick up another back at some point this season. Depending on how Bucky progresses, could be even before the season starts. I was surprised they didn’t draft a bigger back in April.
May 12th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
All great RBs are prone to injury. That’s why they have shorter careers.
Give the kid time to be fully healed.
I wish we had a Mike Alstott type of runner to complement him.
May 12th, 2026 at 10:21 pm
Most people regain full strength and function approximately 6 months after surgery to repair shoulder subluxation. However, recovery sufficient to return to contact sports can take up to 12 months.
Muscle atrophy from weeks of having his arm immobilized is a real thing.
Part of the recovery process will be overcoming the natural inclination to favor the shoulder and try to shield it from full contact….the mental part of the recovery.
Mayfield had a very similar surgery after the 2021 season and didn’t really begin to regain his normal passing mechanics until late in the 2022 season.
I wouldn’t expect to see Irving be effective until late in the season.