- May 21, 2026
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Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles raised some concern about running back Bucky Irving's fitness when he said he thinks Irving will be ready to return from a shoulder injury in the "summer or fall," but a couple of developments in June have painted a better picture.
Irving practiced before the end of the Bucs' offseason program and General Manager Jason Licht offered a little more context for Bowles's comment about the fall. During an appearance on the Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast, Licht said that the team views training camp as the fall and said that Irving is "almost there right now."
“He’s fine,” Licht said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “In fact, I think if we were playing here in a couple of weeks, he’d be ready to go.”
Irving missed seven games in 2025 and the Bucs slipped from fourth to 21st in rushing yards on the season. A full return along with a strong year for free agent pickup Kenneth Gainwell would be a step in the right direction for a rebound on the ground in Tampa.
Irving practiced before the end of the Bucs' offseason program and General Manager Jason Licht offered a little more context for Bowles's comment about the fall. During an appearance on the Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast, Licht said that the team views training camp as the fall and said that Irving is "almost there right now."
“He’s fine,” Licht said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “In fact, I think if we were playing here in a couple of weeks, he’d be ready to go.”
Irving missed seven games in 2025 and the Bucs slipped from fourth to 21st in rushing yards on the season. A full return along with a strong year for free agent pickup Kenneth Gainwell would be a step in the right direction for a rebound on the ground in Tampa.