Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving dealt with a lot last year. First there was foot and shoulder injuries that occurred in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles. Then came a mentally rough patch while he was recovering from those injuries when Irving was isolated from the team as he was rehabbing.

Irving’s foot fully healed during the season, but his shoulder did not and required offseason surgery to fully fix. Joe Bucs Fan first reported the news on Monday evening and Pewter Report has confirmed the fact that Irving did have offseason shoulder surgery.

Irving’s recovery timetable should allow him to return for offseason workouts in May after the 2026 NFL Draft – or perhaps earlier.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

Bucky Irving’s Production Dipped In Second Season With The Bucs

Running back Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick, was a rookie sensation in 2024. He unseated Rachaad White as a starter midway through that season and wound up rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging a gaudy 5.4 yards per carry. But his second season with the Buccaneers was not as smooth or as productive.

Irving had a slow start to the 2025 campaign and then missed Weeks 5-12 with his injuries and mental anguish over being hurt and missing time for the first time in his football career. As a result, Irving only ran for 588 yards and one touchdown last year, while averaging 3.4 yards per carry.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Oregon product’s lone rushing score came when he returned to action against Arizona in Week 13, but Irving failed to average 4.0 yards per carry in any of Tampa Bay’s final six games of the season. In fact, Irving only averaged over 4.0 yards per carry twice last year, averaging 4.2 yards per carry in Week 2 at Houston and against Philadelphia in Week 4.

The Oregon product did make strides as a receiver, catching 30 passes for 277 yards (9.2 avg.) and scoring his first three receiving touchdowns, including a 72-yard catch-and-run score against the Eagles in Week 4 when he finished with five catches for 102 yards. That was Irving’s first 100-yard receiving game in the NFL.

Irving failed to record a 100-yard rushing performance after doing so three times in 2024. However, he did run for 63 yards against Philadelphia in addition to posting 102 yards receiving and a touchdown in Week 4.

There is something to be said about Tampa Bay’s offensive line battling its own injuries in 2025 and the trenches being without left guard Ben Bredeson for six games last year and right Cody Mauch since Week 2. Irving is a between-the-tackles runner, and running behind two practice squad guards in Mike Jordan and Dan Feeney proved to be challenging for the diminutive back last season.

Mauch had knee surgery during the season and is expected to make a full recovery and participate in the team’s OTAs this offseason. Bredeson suffered a hamstring injury at the end of the season, but is also expected to make a complete recovery and be available by spring.