Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Buccaneers head coach worried about star running back Bucky Irving

Originally posted on Tampa Bay Buccaneers on SI
By River Wells | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 1:12 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been dealing with a lot of injuries to their starting players lately, and unfortunately, another might have popped up.

Head coach Todd Bowles spoke to media on the Monday after the team's first loss of the season vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, and he noted that a crop of players were set to get MRIs — so many, in fact, that he couldn't name them all. He was asked, though, if running back Bucky Irving was one of the players he was concerned about, and Bowles confirmed that he was.

"Yeah, he's one of them," Bowles said.

When asked if Bucky Irving was among the injured players he was concerned about, Todd Bowles said “Yeah, he’s one of them."
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) September 29, 2025

An Irving injury would be rough for Tampa Bay, who are already dealing with a crop of them.

What happened to Bucky Irving?

Like a few Bucs players who have gotten hurt this year, Irving finished the game, so it's tough to say exactly when he got his injury. NFL reporter Larry Foster pointed out on Twitter, however, that Irving got rolled up on during a tackle — Irving went down and walked off the field, but he eventually came back into the game.

Breaking

Bucky Irving is getting an MRI on his ankle. He suffered an injury on this play.

Although he was able to finish the game yesterday, it was mainly due to adrenaline.

It looks like a mid to low ankle sprain, sidelining him 2-5 weeks minimum.
pic.twitter.com/JoOKVn990d
— Larry Foster (@LarryFosterNFL) September 29, 2025

Irving's ankle appears to be the main point of concern, and there's a possibility that he could have sprained it. A low ankle sprain would be the best-case scenario, likely putting Irving out for a game or two, but a high ankle sprain would be much worse and could take months to recover. Foster named the injury as a mid-to-low ankle sprain with a timetable of 2-5 weeks.

If Irving weren't able to go, Rachaad White would once again lead the backfield with Sean Tucker, who has been buried in the depth chart, right behind him. Both players have shown some promise in the reps they've gotten, so the Bucs wouldn't be struggling, but Irving's ability to make defenders miss in space and his superior ball-carrying vision would be missed for the Bucs in the time he's out.

Tampa Bay is set to play against the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 5 in an attempt to shake off their loss to the Eagles. The game is currently scheduled for 4:05, but the Seattle Mariners' playoff bid in the ALDS could change that.