It seems injuries to star players are happening at an alarming rate across the NFL, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no exception.
Coming off a 31-25 defeat to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last week-Tampa's first loss of the season-quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for 289 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, was battling knee and right biceps injuries that kept him out of practice on Wednesday.
There was some concern about Mayfield's status for the Bucs' Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, but those worries were likely subsided after Mayfield was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
And while Bucs fans were likely breathing a sigh of relief about Mayfield, they did get some bad news about another offensive star.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Tampa Bay will be without leading rusher Bucky Irving this week, and he could possibly be out even longer.
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"Bucs RB Bucky Irving (foot) is expected to miss Sunday's game vs. Seahawks and is in danger of missing next week vs. 49ers, per source," Fowler reported on Friday. "Rookie Josh Williams figures to be active this week as a third back in Irving's absence."
Irving saw his snap count drop slightly in Week 4 against the Eagles, and some began to wonder if he was less than 100%. The second-year running back suffered apparent foot and shoulder injuries in Week 4 and has spent the week "gathering medical opinions," according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
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Losing the 23-year-old tailback, rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns last year as a rookie, is a gut-punch to the Buccaneers offense - Irving leads the team in carries (71) and rushing yards (237).
With Irving potentially sidelined for multiple weeks, fourth-year RB Rachaad White will likely take over as the Tampa's No. 1 back.
The 26-year-old rushed for 613 yards and three touchdowns last season while backing up Irving, and he's just two years removed from his breakout 990-yard, six-touchdown season in 2023.
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