Buccaneers head coach worried about star running back Bucky Irving

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. Late in the game, Irving went down on the field after a rough tackle where he got rolled up on, but he walked off the field, but he eventually came back into the game.

Bucky Irving is down on the field after taking a hit on a short pass from Mayfield.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 28, 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.

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.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2025 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• How Buccaneers are preparing for stretch without Mike Evans

• Why Buccaneers' massive new lineman won't play vs. Eagles to stop tush push

• Buccaneers offensive player breaks leg in Jets game ending 2025 season

• Why the Buccaneers won’t sign this $29 million free agent