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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in for a dogfight down the stretch as they try to win a fourth consecutive NFC South Division title and make the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
Want proof? Just look at the Week 13 NFL boxscores, where it’s clear as day the Carolina Panthers beat the Los Angeles Rams, 31-28, after several weeks of everyone with a microphone in front of their face saying the Rams were the team to beat in the NFC.
In case you forgot — which if you did that’s understandable — the Panthers are also in the NFC South.
While the Buccaneers barely squeaked out a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 to improve to 7-5 overall and keep the slimmest of leads over the Panthers in the division, the 2 teams face each other twice over the last 3 games of the regular season.
For the Buccaneers, it’s a battle they finally have reinforcements for after star running back Bucky Irving returned to play the Cardinals after a 7-game absence and looked really freaking good when he did.
Irving Earns Praise for Performance Against Cards
Irving played well enough that Bleacher Report singled him out as one of the NFL’s “Biggest Winners” in Week 13 after he had 81 yards of total offense and led the Buccaneers with 61 rushing yards against the Cardinals.
Irving also found the end zone, scoring a touchdown on a 13-yard run in the third quarter as the Buccaneers snapped a 3-game losing streak. Irving had another touchdown called back on a holding penalty in the first quarter.
From B/R: “Injuries have been a significant problem for the Bucs in 2025, but Tampa did get one key player back on Sunday. Bucky Irving made his return after missing seven games with shoulder and foot injuries. While Irving averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, he logged 19 touches, tallied 81 scrimmage yards, and found the end zone against Arizona. His presence could potentially play a huge role in Tampa getting back into early-season form.”
Irving’s Absence Took Strange Turn at End
While it’s not totally clear if he could have returned earlier from a shoulder injury, it was implied at the end of Irving’s time away from the team that he may have been able to return sooner were it not for mental health issues that sprang up — specifically regarding how Irving was impacted by the first significant injury of his career.
Irving had over 1,500 yards of total offense and 8 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, including over 1,000 rushing yards while serving most of the season in a backup role to veteran Rachaad White.
“I’m not so sure Bucky Irving is going to be back (against the Rams in Week 12),” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said on Thursday, November 20. ” … It’s something that probably shouldn’t be out. But I don’t think he’s going to be back anytime soon. It’s definitely more information than what’s available in the injury report.”
“Bucky Irving needed some extra support after becoming injured and being away from his team for the first time in his career, according to people close to the situation,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on Friday, November 21.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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