When Will RB Bucky Irving Be Ready To Go?

The Bucs went through plenty of trials and tribulations throughout last season. When it came to battling injuries, the team was hit hard across the board all year long. Running back Bucky Irving was among those players, having missed time due to foot and shoulder injuries, which affected his effectiveness as a runner. It was reported back in February that he had offseason surgery to address his shoulder issue.

This week, the coaching staff and general manager Jason Licht provided an update on Irving’s progress and a timetable for returning.

Bucky Irving Has Not Been Cleared To Participate Coming Off Shoulder Surgery

The Bucs began their ramp-up back on April 20th when phase one of the offseason program began. Players began trickling back to the AdventHealth Training Center, including Bucky Irving. While Irving has been out there on the practice field running around, he has yet to be cleared to fully participate. After listening to offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Pewter Report reported as much on Tuesday afternoon.

Here was Robinson’s full comment about Irving, which started in discussing how his usage will be taken into consideration to prevent injuries from popping up. One might remember his heavy usage playing a factor in him not being 100% for much of the season, which contributed to his yards per carry decreasing from 5.4 yards in 2024 to just 3.4 in 2025.

“There’s always a sweet spot with the number of carries throughout the course of a season that you’re trying to hit with those guys,” Robinson said about the running back position. “Sometimes, shoot, [Bucky’s] running the rock great, and he ends up with 25 carries, but he’s got 140 yards, and you’re like, ‘Man, we needed every single one.’ There is a fine balance to it, but in terms of the type of run concepts, I think Bucky can run everything.

“He’s got some toughness; you do have to kind of save him from himself sometimes, just because he is such a mentally tough and physically tough player. I’m just excited to see Bucky. We’re missing him right now, but once he gets out there, it’s going to be great to see him and Kenny go hand-in-hand. Shoot, one guy might get this amount, and then the next week, they might end up balanced. It’s just kind of the feeling of the hot hand; we’ll see where it goes.”

The key part of Robinson’s comment is “once he gets out there.” Understandably, there is some concern about what that means for one of Tampa Bay’s offensive stars. With the offense looking to get back to its 2024 levels, it needs the best, healthiest version of Irving.

Bucs GM Jason Licht: Bucky Irving “Has Been Working His Ass Off”

Looking for more clarification on Bucky Irving’s status, Pewter Report picked Jason Licht’s brain on when Irving could be back taking handoffs during Licht’s appearance on the Pewter Report Podcast on Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s right on target with that surgery that he had,” Licht said. “He’s probably going to be introduced into limited action here in the summer, in June. Then, he’s going to be right on target to be full-go at training camp. I know he’s been working his ass off; I’ll say that. He looks really good watching him out my window here doing his running and all that stuff. Everything is looking very good for him.”

With OTAs beginning later this month and continuing through June, there is a chance Irving is good to go for the latter portion of them. If not then, mandatory mini-camp takes place June 16 to June 18 and could be when he makes his return.

Running backs coach Skip Peete went on to provide a similar message about where Irving is at from a physical and mental standpoint. When it comes to having him and offseason addition Kenny Gainwell sharing the rock, Peete is excited about what the duo can do.

“Right now, Bucky’s on track to be ready to go and all of that,” Peete said. “I think the combination of Kenny and Bucky are very similar as far as the skillset — their abilities and play size. They’re both capable of running the ball well as [well] as running routes, catching it out of the backfield. They’re not very large people, but they’re willing pass protectors and both showcase they can do that.”

There is no doubt Irving was dealt a difficult hand in 2025. Between injuries to him and the offensive line, it was not surprising to see regression from the unit when it came to running the football. 2026 brings a fresh start for everyone involved, though.

Once he gets back on the field, Peete expects Bucky Irving to run wild.

“Well, sometimes guys have never been in those types of situations,” Peete said about the struggles Irving went through dealing with injury. “I think every person kind of handles those things a little bit differently. What I see in him right now is the guy I’ve always known. He’s acting normal, he’s back to being the guy that’s working out every single day.

“He’s doing everything that is expected of him as far as the training room and what the strength staff has him doing. I think he’s dialed in as far as he’s in the meetings and everything like that. He’s studying just as he always has. He’s in a good place right now, I think he’s going to be very excited to get an opportunity to get out there and practice.”