Damage Control
May 28th, 2026
Racing to douse Bucky Irving fire.
It seems KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles ignited a fire from drought-stricken Florida on Tuesday.
No sooner was he finished addressing the Fourth Estate after the first open underwear football practice of the spring and headlines were all over #NFLMedia.
Bucky Irving may not return until the fall.
Where pray tell did these NFL stenographers get such an idea that Bucs running back Bucky Irving may not return until the regular season? Why, from Bowles himself. Speaking about Bucky’s return, here was Bowles’ direct quote:
“We expect him sometime back in the summer or the fall, and you know, we’ll look forward to him when he gets back.”
Well, whomever does damage control at One Buc Palace got on the horn to the right person who knows how to operate a fire extinguisher for an NFL team in need.
That would be BSPN’s uber NFL insider Adam Schefter.
A few hours after Bowles threw a lit match onto the dry roadside grass, Schefter followed with his garden hose.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving is rehabbing from off-season shoulder surgery and should be ready later this summer, per source. Irving is not expected to participate in mini-camp in a few weeks, but he is likely to be ready at some point during training camp.
So, at least for now, Bucs fans can rest comfortably at night, knowing that No. 7 will be full-go behind a healthy offensive line.
Sometime this summer.
Now, how do you define “summer?” Like Midwesterners do (August) or Floridians do (early October)?
Bucs RB Bucky Irving is rehabbing from off-season shoulder surgery and should be ready later this summer, per source. Irving is not expected to participate in mini-camp in a few weeks, but he is likely to be ready at some point during training camp. pic.twitter.com/UwiGS701lr
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 26, 2026
May 28th, 2026 at 12:21 am
Still seems like a different picture Licht was trying to paint. Hard to believe anything that comes out of his mouth . Hopefully Bucky will be back to old self.
May 28th, 2026 at 12:25 am
Just keep the launch codes out of Bowles’ hands. Or chaos will ensue.. Will this raise or lower his approval ratings? Go Bowles?
May 28th, 2026 at 12:41 am
Honestly after thinking about this more even Sean Tucker is good enough to start and could be the best back we have.
The O Line health is the bigger picture here.
Still wouldn’t mind a bigger back.
And a veteran CB.
Give me those 2 and I will start getting excited.
If a CB goes down we are still in trouble.
When was the last time that didn’t happen?
May 28th, 2026 at 12:50 am
Tired of Bucky talk. Clearly a fragile mind that they’re trying to manage. Suit up and play or don’t. Still think that a healthy line allows more Tucker, who clearly doesn’t block well but might be the best pure runner. Put him in.
May 28th, 2026 at 12:51 am
Just like I said the other day… All these commenters will be hanging onto EVERY single bit of information that is disclosed, concerning EVERY little hangnail, from now on throughout, the rest of entire preseason. So, commence to all of the ‘bed wetting’ NOW. Yawn.
May 28th, 2026 at 2:09 am
Bowles and his dumb a** clown act . Much like his in game follies and miscues ! Todd Bowles is eating this team away in mediocre ball !
May 28th, 2026 at 3:17 am
I’m really not sure what you’re saying the difference is in the takes Joe. Same thing, pretty much except the “revised report” is far more vague (even though it has plenty of more words).
I suppose one is a bit more eloquent but let’s call a spade a spade. He’s Not going to be back for quite awhile from what either or is saying. To be honest, Bowles was seemingly “more honest” without the bs ing… I can’t stand the bs ing in fact and I’m going give that one to Bowles. Like I said, less eloquent, BUT more honest.
CLEARLY they’ve KNOWN THIS for quite some time or they wouldn’t have gone out of their way for Gainwell.. Spoken before but I’ll speak to it again, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a udfa’s name thrown around for “serious consideration” as well. or another free agent picked up before the being of the season since they really aren’t “sure” that Bucky will be available for the first whistle of the season!
May 28th, 2026 at 5:36 am
Didn’t I read that Bucky hid the injury last year till week 4 or 5? Not sure how you hide it, buy seems like just another ‘wait and see’ from the crackerjack medical team and training staff. Had they addressed the shoulder during last season he would have had another 3 months of rehab heading into this year.
And yes Obvious One – Bowles being more honest is a bit unusual. And YES, again – they don’t sign Gainwell for that kind of money if Bucky is healthy.
May 28th, 2026 at 5:36 am
Translate: We hope, but we have no idea. (See Tristan Wirfs Ala 2025)
May 28th, 2026 at 6:32 am
Bucky doesn’t seem to be all that different from most RBs. Give him a top-ranked OLine (2024) & a quality OC (Coen) and he’ll do great … 1122 yds rushing on 207 carries in 17 games (5.4 YPC). Put him behind a musical chairs OLine (2025) & a rookie OC (Grizz) and he’ll stumble … 588 yds rushing on 173 carries in 10 games (3.4 YPC). And of course, injuries don’t help.
Bucky played the first 4 games last year then returned for the last 6 games after his injury. Bucs had OLine issues right from the git-go of 2025, and Bucky didn’t do all that well rushing (he did great in the passing game). Didn’t really do any better rushing in the last 6 games it appears, but his receiving did fall off a little.
o First 4 games: 237 yds rushing on 71 carries (3.3 YPC) plus 19-for-19 in the passing game for 193 yds (10.2 YPR).
o Last 6 games: 351 yds rushing on 102 carries (3.4 YPC) plus 11-for-16 in the passing game for 84 yds (7.6 YPR).
So last year he had 173 carries in 10 games … 17 carries per game average. Rachaad White only got 132 in 17 games … tad less than 8 carries per game, but he ended up with a 4.3 YPC average. And poor Sean Tucker only got 86 carries in 17 games … 5 carries per game, and ended up with a 3.7 YPC average. Same OLine, same OC. So we kept the 2 lowest performers and let the top runner (and receiver & blocker) walk. Gotta love the strategy. But we did replace him with Kenny Gainwell, who looks to be a Bucky Irving clone.
Personally don’t like the direction our running game has gone. I’m not impressed by either Bucky Irving’s or Sean Tucker’s performance last season, but I am impressed with Kenny Gainwell’s consistency as a runner (he’s only average as a receiver IMO). None of the 3 of them appear to be world-class blockers, and Baker Mayfield could end up being the one who pays the price for that eventually.
Bucs still NEED to add 2 players before the season starts: a quality veteran CB capable of starting outside, AND a quality veteran RB with strengths as a blocking back, plus short yardage & goal line situations.
There are several RBs I’d like, but my preferred one is Najee Harris (6’1″ & 242 lbs). Najee has 5 yrs in the league & sports a 3.9 YPC average (VERY consistent year-to-year). Never missed a game in 4 yrs with the Steelers, but was injured (torn Achilles) after 3 games last season with the Chargers. Reports from Feb 2026 say that his recovery is just about 100% complete.
May 28th, 2026 at 6:51 am
Kenny Gainwell can handle short yardage. We don’t really need anyone else, we have a couple more RB’s still on the roster that are plenty good and don’t cost a fortune. Also, Gainwell is an excellent runner AND receiver. He caught a bunch of wheel routes from Rodgers last year. And Becky’s shoulder should be pain-free soon if his surgery was back in February. I wish they would have done it early in January. I want to see Tucker running behind a healthy Cody Mauch a bunch of times this year to see if he can break some 80 yarders with his speed.
May 28th, 2026 at 6:52 am
Err…Bucky
May 28th, 2026 at 6:55 am
Just another example of a HC in over his head. Oh well. Thanks Glazers
May 28th, 2026 at 6:56 am
One thing we should all be used to by now is you can’t take anything this team says about injuries seriously. There’s really no point in even asking
May 28th, 2026 at 7:18 am
Najee Harris and Kareem Hunt still available. We need a thumper for short yardage and goal line. Tucker did and adequate job at the goal line but I remember we ran 6 or 7 straight times inside the 3 yard line and no TD. The o line will help, but we need a big back
May 28th, 2026 at 8:29 am
As I have opined many times here-you cannot run Buck a bunch up in there between the tackles or he will just get hurt again. See Tarik Cohen career.
May 28th, 2026 at 9:05 am
Bowles continues to prove himself incapable of being the HC\DC.
The Glazers are simply papering over the obvious blunders he continues to make.
I’m not sure what part of the culture he brings that they love so much.
It’s certainly not winning games or contending for a title.
That ship has crashed against the rocks and is on the bottom of the Bay.
May 28th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Tucker will shine!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 28th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Glad to see that Bowles already has his first excuse. Looking forward to 2027. Go Bucs!
May 28th, 2026 at 11:05 am
If I know the Bucs Medical Staff, Bucky will not be on the field until Week 6.
I’d rather have a one-eyed surgeon who went to med school in Calcutta treat me than let anyone from the Bucs’ medical staff look at my injury.
May 28th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I’m not worried. We have good depth at RB.
May 28th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Bucky is a 10-15 touch per game back and will be good in a rotation with Gainwell and Tucker. Hopefully Robinson will use these guys wisely. Unlike last year’s idiot OC who thought Bucky was a 30 carry a game “bell cow” back.