He may have entered the weekend with a “questionable” status on the injury report, and he might have come into Sunday as a true game-time decision, but Bucky Irving overcame his back and hip injuries in a big way in the Bucs’ 40-17 win over the Chargers.

The rookie running back ran for 117 yards on only 15 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt. The big one came in the third quarter when his offensive line gave him a clean running lane that he hit hard before making a cut and racing down the sideline for a 54-yard pickup.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving Photo by: USA Today

With his second career 100-yard rushing performance – and his second in three games – Irving is within striking distance of becoming the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015. Irving now has 852 yards on the season, leaving him only 148 away from the 1,000-yard mark. He needs to average 49.3 yards per game over Tampa Bay’s final three contests to get there.

Irving is looking to become the ninth Buccaneer running back to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. It would be the 13th such season in franchise history. Here’s the list as it is now:

1. James Wilder (Two – 1984, 1985)
2. Doug Martin (Two – 2012, 2015)
3. Ricky Bell (1979)
4. Errict Rhett (Two – 1994, 1995)
5. Cadillac Williams (2005)
6. Reggie Cobb (1992)
7. Warrick Dunn (Two – 1998, 2000)
8. LeGarrette Blount (2010)

Irving is also looking to become the fifth of those Buccaneer running backs to hit 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie. Along those lines, it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up in terms of the franchise’s all-time rookie rushing leaders. Here’s the list as it is now:

1. Doug Martin – 1,454 yards (2012)
2. Cadillac Williams – 1,178 yards (2005)
3. Errict Rhett – 1,011 yards (1994)
4. LeGarrette Blount – 1,007 yards (2010)

Irving already has the 20th-most single-season rushing yards in Bucs history, and on his current pace (60.9 YPG), he’ll finish with 1,034 rushing yards. That would be the 10th-most in a single season in franchise history, and it would be the third-most ever by a rookie running back in Tampa Bay.

Will Bucky Irving Hit 1,000 Yards – And How Soon Could He Get There?

Bucs RB Bucky Irving Photo by: USA Today

When Bucky Irving was forced to sit for most of last week’s win over the Raiders due to his back injury, it hurt his chances of reaching 1,000 yards. But that proved to be just a one-week setback, as he put up 117 yards against the Chargers and is now back on track to get there. Will he, and how soon could he?

With the pace he’s on right now, yes, Irving will become the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher in nine years. Staying healthy is obviously the key, but if he keeps his back and hip feeling good, how soon might he accomplish that feat? The schedule sets up well for both Irving and the rest of the Tampa Bay backfield.

Next up is a trip to Jerry World to face the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 16. Dallas came into Week 15 ranked 30th against the run, having given up 141.9 yards per game on the ground. They may rise up the ranks after holding the Panthers to just 60 rushing yards on Sunday, and that’s now four games in a row that the Cowboys have allowed under 65 rushing yards. But Dallas has allowed some big games on the ground this year, and it looks like a good matchup for Irving and the Bucs.

After that, Tampa Bay returns home to host the Panthers, who came into Week 15 ranked dead last against the run. They were giving up 143.7 yards per game, and they’ll remain dead last after giving up 211 rushing yards to the Cowboys. Irving had his first career 100-yard game against Carolina two weeks ago, and the Week 17 rematch at Raymond James Stadium could be his moment to break that 1,000-yard mark.

If he can’t get the 148 yards he needs over the next two weeks, his final chance to make history comes at home against the Saints in Week 18. New Orleans entered this weekend ranked 26th against the run, allowing 134.4 yards per game on the ground. They gave up 137 rushing yards to the Commanders on Sunday, so they’re still struggling in that department. Irving ran for 81 yards on 14 carries (5.8 avg.) against the Saints back in October.