Bucky Irving injury update
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Bucky Irving injury update
All year long, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ running back Bucky Irving had several injury woes. None was more son impactful than that of the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 4. Altogether, he missed seven games of action, returning in Week 13, but not looking like the level of player Bucs fans knew he could be.
However, news has just emerged that right after the season ended, Bucky Irving underwent shoulder surgery, which could impact a timeline for his return next season. With Rachaad White set to hit free agency, it is paramount that the Bucs are able to get Bucky Irving back to full health as soon as possible.
Surgery Now, Stability Later?
After all, despite an injury plagued season last year, his rookie season was a revelation. He appeared in all seventeen of the Bucs’ games, and while only starting three, he had 1,122 yards rushing, eight rushing touchdowns, and topped it all of with 392 receiving yards.
This season, Irving was only able to post a minimal number of stats, tallying 588 rushing yards and 277 receiving yards. He only scored four touchdowns last season as well.
For nervous Bucs fans, the timeline of the surgery should give them hope that Irving will not face problems headed into the Bucs’ offseason program. Because the surgery happened immediately after the season’s end, chances are Irving will be all good to go for next year and can participate in all of the offseason activities for the team.
Workload, Wear and What Comes Next
What’s important to note is that the Bucs believed that Bucky Irving’s struggles last season were not because of a regression in his performances. They believed that the shoulder injury was mostly to blame. If so, they are fully expecting Irving to get back to the numbers he posted in his rookie season, as he could have a much bigger workload next year as well.
To put all of Irving’s struggles into perspective, he did not average over 4 yards per carry in any of the final six games of Tampa Bay’s season.
Irving also only eclipsed 4 yards per carry only twice throughout the season, and did not most concerningly, post a 100 yard performance either. The advanced metrics don’t paint a better picture, as according to PFSN’s metrics, he only posted a 45.4 impact grade and an overall F grade at the position as well.
For the Bucs running back, it will ultimately come down to how the Bucs build up the running back room behind him after White’s potential departure. Because of his status as the lead back this year, Irving’s body went through much more strain, and as a result, the injuries piled up. Whether it be through the draft or free agency, the Bucs could look to add depth at the position to better protect against more injury to their young star.
In a season where injuries defined the Bucs, the fact that Irving got the necessary injury to hasten his timeline of return was crucial. If not, the Bucs could have had a mini crisis at the position.