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Bucky Irving

Baker Mayfield “Trending To Play” In Week 13; Bucky Irving To Return From Injury

November 28th, 2025 at 5:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 28: Bowles said (via team writer Scott Smith) that the Buccaneers had made a decision at quarterback, indicating Mayfield will start. Bowles added that the veteran quarterback “looked good” in Friday’s practice and is “trending to play.” Mayfield was upgraded to full participation after practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday; he is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.

Bowles also revealed (via Laine) that Irving would make his return from a seven-game absence caused by foot and shoulder injuries, adding that Tampa Bay would “go with the hot hand” at running back. Rachaad White got the majority of the Buccaneers’ backfield work immediately after Irving went down, but Sean Tucker has received more touches over the last four games.

NOVEMBER 27: A loss against the Rams on Sunday dropped the Buccaneers to 6-5. The team faces a number of questions on the injury front entering Week 13, but there are a number of positive developments in that regard.

Baker Mayfield was unable to finish the game in Week 12 after injuring his left (i.e. non-throwing) shoulder. An MRI revealed Mayfield suffered a low-grade AC joint sprain, and as such he could be an option to play against the Cardinals in Week 13. Much of his availability for the game will come down to pain management.

“If it’s gonna hinder how I play, then I probably won’t go,” the third-year Buccaneer said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “But I won’t know that until later in the week of getting practice reps and see how that goes.”

The coming days will be worth watching closely in this case. Tampa Bay has lost three straight games and four of five. The team still sits atop the NFC South, but the 6-6 Panthers loom as a threat to win the division. Having Mayfield – who has a track record of playing through injuries – on the field during the closing stages of the season would be key for the Bucs. They could have reinforcements coming soon as well.

Receiver Chris Godwin returned to the lineup in Week 12, and it was known at that point running back Bucky Irving was close to suiting up as well. Tampa’s lead back has not played since Week 4, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he is expected to play this week. Head coach Todd Bowles has since confirmed (via team reporter Scott Bair) Irving will make his return barring any setbacks during practice. As a rookie, the 23-year-old topped 1,500 scrimmage yards; Irving was also productive early this year before going down.

A return to action in that case will thus provide a notable boost to Tampa Bay’s offense. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes (video link) receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are close to being able to play. Evans has been sidelined since October due to a broken clavicle, while McMillan has yet to suit up in 2025. Having a WR at full strength (including standout rookie Emeka Egbuka, of course) would give the Buccaneers plenty of options in the passing game. Per Garafolo, starting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn pec. He could manage to play late in the regular season as a result.

Tampa Bay could have several key contributors back in the fold by the end of the campaign. Mayfield’s status will remain uncertain for the time being, but no more than a short absence in his case appears likely. The Bucs’ health down the stretch will make for an interesting story to follow as they look to bounce back from how the past few weeks have gone.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin Likely To Play In Week 12; RB Bucky Irving Nearing Return

November 21st, 2025 at 4:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Injuries have increasingly become an issue for the Buccaneers, but one notable return at the receiver position can be expected. Chris Godwin was a full participant in practice yesterday, the first time that was the case since his most recent game action.

Godwin is “definitely trending toward playing,” head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday (via the team’s website). A return in that case would be welcomed by a Tampa Bay team which has been without Mike Evans since Week 7. A broken clavicle will keep Evans sidelined for much of the regular season, leaving Godwin and rookie Emeka Egbuka to handle the load at the receiver spot down the stretch.

Ebuka enjoyed a stellar start to the year, but since Godwin went down the first-rounder has understandably seen a downturn in production. Defenses will be less likely to focus primarily on Egbuka once even one half of the Evans-Godwin tandem is back in place. That could very well be the case for Sunday, although offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard suggested Godwin could be on a pitch count during his return game.

The 29-year-old was leading the league in receptions when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in 2024. Godwin has not been able to carry on in terms of production due to his latest ailment, but expectations will be high once he is back in the fold. A nine-year Tampa Bay veteran, Godwin elected to remain in place this past offseason by inking a three-year, $66MM pact. Remaining healthy moving forward will thus be critical to his impact in 2025 but also beyond the current season.

In other injury news, lead running back Bucky Irving will not suit up on Sunday night against the Rams. Bowles said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times) Irving “didn’t handle” the situation well when he was injured, but added the 23-year-old is “trending up” regarding a return in Week 13. Tampa Bay will take on Carolina in what could be Irving’s first game action since September.

The Bucs still lead the NFC South, but the 6-4 team has lost three of its last four games. Rebounding down the stretch will be key if Tampa is to top the division once again in 2025, and a more positive outlook on the health front is taking shape.

Buccaneers Expected To Be Without Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving In Week 7; Latest On Jalen McMillan

October 18th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 18: As expected, the Buccaneers have ruled out Godwin and Irving for Monday night’s game (via Auman), but head coach Todd Bowles said that Egbuka is a game-time after returning to practice on Saturday. Evans, however, is expected to play, per Auman, giving Mayfield at least one of his best weapons back for a crucial matchup at the top of the NFC that could play a factor in postseason seeding.

OCTOBER 15: Without injuries factored in, Monday night’s Buccaneers-Lions matchup would reside as one of the league’s top games during the first half the season. Tampa Bay is 5-1 despite a slew of maladies on offense, while Detroit is 4-2 amid more injury trouble on the defensive side.

One positional duel Monday presents a fascinating setup, however. The Bucs are heading into Week 7 decimated at wide receiver, while the Lions just faced the Chiefs without five of their top six cornerbacks. Although Tampa Bay held on against a San Francisco team that lost Fred Warner midgame, Detroit’s depleted secondary could not contain Kansas City’s depleted passing attack.

Some advanced looks at the Bucs and Lions’ rosters will be required ahead of this game, as a wave of backups will be involved when Baker Mayfield looks to pass. The team’s receiver situation absorbed two more blows over the past several days. Chris Godwin‘s fibula injury will almost definitely keep him out of Week 7, with Todd Bowles indicating (h/t WTSP’s Evan Closky) neither Godwin nor Bucky Irving is expected to be ready for the Lions tilt. Emeka Egbuka‘s explosive start has also hit a roadblock.

The hamstring injury the first-round pick suffered in Week 6 is likely to keep him out for Week 7, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said during a Rich Eisen Show appearance. Though, some good news has come out of the Egbuka storyline. The Bucs do not view this hamstring issue as one that will sideline the rookie for as long as Mike Evans has been shelved by his. Evans has missed the past three games. Egbuka has proven a quick study, hauling in 27 passes for 469 yards and five touchdowns.

Evans has not been ruled out yet; his status could determine how deep Bucs and Lions fans’ research efforts will need to be. The Bucs finished Sunday’s 49ers matchup with Sterling Shepard — who has stabilized his career after years of injury-plagued Giants seasons — to go with seventh-round rookie Tez Johnson and second-year UDFA Kameron Johnson. This trio will be needed again, perhaps even if Evans is deemed ready to return. They will face a Lions team that has D.J. Reed and backups Khalil Dorsey and Ennis Rakestraw on IR, with Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox having missed the Chiefs game.

Tampa Bay’s receiver stable stood as one of the NFL’s deepest position groups entering OTAs, as it was not known Godwin would need to miss games after his 2024 ankle dislocation. During preseason play, however, Jalen McMillan suffered a neck injury and landed on IR. The 2024 third-round pick remains in a brace, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, but has not experienced a setback. A December return remains the target, Auman adds.

Subbing for Godwin last season, McMillan finished the year on a tear by catching seven touchdown passes over the Bucs’ final five regular-season games. McMillan still has a ways to go on his recovery path, but the Bucs will likely hold one of their injury activations for him. The second-year player represents a wild card of sorts, especially with Shepard still in the mix as an auxiliary piece accompanying Evans, Egbuka and Godwin (presuming he returns from this fibula issue).

Irving remains out with a foot sprain and a shoulder injury later revealed to be a subluxation. The Bucs have not used IR for Irving, Evans, Egbuka or Godwin. This will mark back-to-back absences for Godwin, who needed nearly a year to recover from his ankle injury before sustaining this fibula setback, and three straight for Irving. Rachaad White has made this a notable part of his contract year, while third-year UDFA Sean Tucker sits as the current backup.

Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving Out For Week 6, Potentially Longer

October 11th, 2025 at 11:32am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was ruled out for Week 6, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine. According to her colleague Dan Graziano, Irving may be at risk of missing Week 7 as well.

The second-year running back did not play in Tampa Bay’s last game due to a foot sprain and a shoulder injury that was later revealed to be a subluxation, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Both injuries are expected to heal in two to three weeks, per FOX Sports’ Rick Stroud.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said (via FOX Sports’ Greg Auman) on Wednesday that Irving is “getting better by the day,” but did not set any expectations for a speedy return. He will likely need to return to practice next week to have a shot at playing in the team’s next game.

Tampa Bay will be more than comfortable turning to Rachaad White and Sean Tucker in the meantime. White has not turned out to be an especially dynamic rusher, but he is among the best pass-catching backs in the league. Tucker flashed with 308 yards on 50 carries (6.2 yards per carry) in 2024 but has just four attempts so far this year. Both should see plenty of touches as long as Irving is out. He was only averaging 3.3 yards per attempt when healthy, so White and Tucker could make strong arguments for their involvement for the rest of the year.

Undrafted rookie running back Josh Williams could have seen his first offensive touches in Irving’s absence, but he entered concussion protocol after Thursday’s practice and was also ruled out for Sunday’s game.

The Buccaneers are dealing with a number of other injuries at other positions. Pro Bowl wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were ruled out, as were cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison. Bowles said (via team writer Scott Smith) that McCollum played through a thumb injury in Week 5 and had a minor procedure this week. He was seen by Auman sporting a cast and a sling at practice. Morrison has not played since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury and may not be close to returning.

The secondary will have veteran Jamel Dean back in Week 6 after a one-game absence due to a hip injury. He was taken off the injury report entirely and should be full-go on Sunday.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving Battling Foot Sprain

October 3rd, 2025 at 9:30am CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 3: Irving will miss the Buccaneers’ Week 5 matchup with the Seahawks; the team ruled him out. He missed practice all week and is at risk of being sidelined for the team’s Week 6 contest as well, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

OCTOBER 2: One of the NFL’s biggest running back success stories in recent years, Bucky Irving commandeered the Buccaneers’ starting job last year and entered this season as the unquestioned leader of the team’s backfield. Irving delivered a strong performance in Tampa Bay’s narrow loss to Philadelphia in Week 4.

Irving came out of that game worse for wear, however, and is battling two injuries. Suiting up for Week 5 will be an uphill battle for the second-year player, as NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport indicate the player is gathering medical options on an injury ESPN’s Adam Schefter later labeled a foot sprain. Although Irving came out of Sunday’s game with a shoulder malady as well, the foot issue is the one that would stand to impede a return against the Seahawks.

The former fourth-round pick was spotted on crutches and with a walking boot on his injured left foot, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, while Todd Bowles said the boot will need to be shed by Friday if he is to consider deploying his starter against the Seahawks. IR does not appear a consideration just yet, with Irving labeled day-to-day, but gathering medical opinions and an ultimatum on a walking boot do not present positive signs for the RB’s Week 5 availability.

This creates an issue for the Bucs, who have seen Irving become a regular producer since he usurped Rachaad White in the backfield. The team is also already without offensive regulars Mike Evans, Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch and Jalen McMillan.

Joining Bo Nix in transferring to Oregon in 2022, Irving landed in Tampa after his Day 3 draft arrival. Despite mid-round status, the ex-Minnesota recruit impressed with a 1,122-yard rushing season as a rookie. Irving also added 392 receiving yards, becoming an all-around option for Baker Mayfield. Irving managed 1,514 scrimmage yards despite starting only three 2024 games. Only Alvin Kamara (1,554) tops that among rookies with three or fewer starts throughout NFL history.

Irving also managed this with a 5-foot-10, 195-pound frame. His size created moderate concern about durability, but the Bucs gave him 254 touches last season. He has impressed in Year 2, totaling 430 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. One of those came on a 72-yard toss from Mayfield against the Eagles.

If Irving cannot go, White looms as the next man up. The Bucs’ starter in 2023 and for most of 2024, White is in a contract year and likely to depart — thanks to Irving’s emergence — in 2026. Though, the Bucs sure have displayed a penchant for re-signing their own in recent years, potentially not shutting the door on White staying. White is averaging an impressive 4.7 yards per carry, but that has come on 23 totes compared to Irving’s 71. The Bucs have given Irving at least 20 touches in three straight games. Sean Tucker, a third-year UDFA, would be White’s backup/change-of-pace option if Irving sits.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/24

May 10th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday’s rush of rookie signings continued today. Here are Friday’s draft pick signings:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • K Will Reichard (sixth round, Alabama)
  • C Michael Jurgens (seventh round, Wake Forest)
  • DT Levi Drake Rodriguez (seventh round, Texas A&M-Commerce)

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • G Mason McCormick (fourth round, South Dakota State)
  • DT Logan Lee (sixth round, Iowa)

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Cowboys Close To Re-Signing Ezekiel Elliott?

April 28th, 2024 at 9:48am CST by Sam Robinson

SUNDAY, 9:48am: The Cowboys did not add a running back on Day 3 of this weekend’s draft either. As Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram relays, Jerry Jones believes that Elliott still has RB1 abilities, and while executive vice president Stephen Jones conceded in his post-draft presser that the team would have considered an RB if the right player had been available, the running back need never aligned with value in the front office’s estimation (via Moore).

Interestingly, last year’s Trey Lance trade is a primary reason for Dallas’ inability to select a Day 3 RB prospect. The Cowboys sent a fourth-round choice, which ultimately became 2024’s No. 124 overall pick, to the 49ers in exchange for Lance in August. After the Niners used that pick on safety Malik Mustapha, five of the next 10 players off the board were running backs. Four of those — Bucky Irving, Ray Davis, Isaac Guerendo, and Braelon Allen — were intriguing to Dallas, which did not have a selection between pick nos. 87 and 174.

While Stephen Jones did not mention Elliott by name when speaking to reporters after the draft was over, Moore says “it was understood” the EVP was talking about Elliott when he said, “we’ll have opportunities throughout to address this running back situation and feel like we’ll get that done.”

SATURDAY, 7:10am: Jones continues to hint that a reunion with Elliott could be coming. When asked why the Cowboys didn’t add to the RB position through the first two days of the draft, the team’s owner pointed back to their former star.

“First of all, the draft’s not over and that’s a thought,” Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “And it was a long time before a running back was taken in today’s draft. But we also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke.”

FRIDAY, 4:45pm: A deal with Elliott remains “increasingly imminent” at this point, something which would remain the case even with Brooks or another rookie being selected tonight, per Moore’s colleague Michael Gehlken. It will be interesting to see if further progress on a Dallas agreement produces a response from the other interested party Jones mentioned, or if a reunion officially comes together in the near future.

12:21pm: The Cowboys separated from Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-year, $90MM extension in 2023, but a reality in which the running back is tied to two Dallas contracts on this year’s payroll appears firmly in play.

Rumblings about an Elliott-Cowboys reunion have surfaced at multiple points this offseason, and the team met with the two-time rushing champion Wednesday. Elliott and his agent met were seen with Cowboys brass at multiple locations Wednesday, and Jerry Jones confirmed (via the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore) team brass “spent a lot of time with Zeke” this week.

Jones also said if (when?) the Cowboys draft a running back Friday night it would not have any bearing on how they approach an Elliott reunion. At least one other known suitor exists, per Jones, but Moore points to this reunion coming to pass. Jones said he thought Elliott played “very well” late last season with the Patriots.

This reunion was believed to be on the radar months after the team made the former star a cap casualty, but Elliott confirmed it did not gain much traction. That is no longer the case. Jones also said the $6MM — stemming from signing bonus proration on Elliott’s 2019 extension — that remains on the team’s payroll will not affect how the team proceeds with Elliott now.

“Not even a consideration,’’ Jones said. “He’s earned that $6 million. We’ve already spent it. You have to pay that whether he’s here or not. It won’t affect one thing with how he would help our team this year.’’

Elliott, 28, played last season on a one-year, $3MM deal. Another suitor being in the mix will likely lead to Elliott commanding more than the league minimum on a Cowboys reunion. While Elliott only averaged 3.5 yards per carry (a career-low number), he was tied to a 4-13 Patriots team that ran into injury issues up front — to say nothing of a woeful passing attack. Elliott started the final five Pats games, due to a Rhamondre Stevenson IR move, producing two 50-plus-yard rushing performances to close a 642-yard season in what amounted to a committee role.

Jones has offered effusive praise for Elliott in the past, even as Tony Pollard overtook him as the most productive Cowboys back. With Pollard in Nashville now, the Cowboys are likely to draft a replacement. Elliott returning would put him in position as a complementary option. Though, Dallas’ RB situation does not feature strong in-house solutions; journeyman Royce Freeman joins 2023 backup Rico Dowdle and sixth-round Deuce Vaughn, who goes 5-foot-6.

Additionally, Jones confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) Texas running back Jonathon Brooks is “high, high, high, high” on the team’s draft board ahead of Day 2. Jones went so far as to call his interview with Brooks the best he has conducted in 30 years. Playing behind Bijan Robinson in 2022, Brooks played well as a junior last season, accumulating 1,139 rushing yards and 10 TDs. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board slots Brooks as the second-best option — in what is viewed as an unremarkable RB class — despite the ex-Longhorn having suffered a torn ACL last year. With the Cowboys passing on Derrick Henry and others in March, they figure to be prepared to add here soon this weekend.