One critical part of any NFL career is dealing with injuries, because everybody gets hurt. Everybody misses games. How you deal with that part of your career can be what defines your career.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving just had his first bout with that type of adversity … and it didn’t go well. He talked about some of the mystery around his 7-game absence ahead of his return in Week 13 to face the Arizona Cardinals.
“It’s tough man your first time being hurt … I mean when i step on the field I don’t take this game for granted I love what I do every day,” Irving said in a video posted the official X account of Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman. “I love my teammates and when I go out there I play and I show them that each and every time I’m trying to make plays and make thing s happen for this organization and this team to help them in any type of fashion to win football games.”
Irving hasn’t played since he injured his shoulder in a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. His time away from the team took a weird twist last week when reports came out he was gone for longer than he should have been because of mental health issues or, as Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said, “not dealing with his injury like he should have.”
‘More Information Than What’s On Injury Report’
The drama came before the Buccaneers were blown out, 34-7, in a Week 12 road game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“I’m not so sure Bucky Irving is going to be back (against the Rams),” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said on Thursday, November 20. ” … It’s something that probably shouldn’t be out. But I don’t think he’s going to be back anytime soon. It’s definitely more information than what’s available in the injury report.”
Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud quote-tweeted a video clip of Florio talking about Irving and wrote Irving sought “mental health” help while he’s been away from the team since a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Stroud later deleted the tweet and re-worded another tweet to take out the words “mental health” about Irving’s status.
“Bucky Irving needed some extra support after becoming injured and being away from his team for the first time in his career, according to people close to the situation,” Stroud wrote on his official X account on Friday, November 21.
Irving said he leaned on his faith while he was away from football.
“When God takes something away from you, he’s telling you to get more closer to him and lean on him,” Irving told Auman. “Everything was alright because I had the right people around me.”
Buccaneers Need Irving Back in Worst Way
Irving rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie, taking over the starting role from Rachaad White late in the 2024 regular season.
He’s been sorely missed as the Buccaneers have lost 3 consecutive games to drop to 6-5 overall since starting the season 5-1 — and seeing their lead in the NFC South Division drop to just 1 game over the Carolina Panthers.
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