Despite only carrying the ball 16 times due to the Bucs trailing by two scores for much of Sunday night’s loss to the Cowboys, rookie running back Bucky Irving continued to be efficient with his touches. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry on his way to a 68-yard, one-touchdown performance in Tampa Bay’s losing effort.

Now, Irving is up to 920 yards on the year and is only 80 away from becoming the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015. With two weeks to play, that obviously averages out to him needing only 40 yards per game to reach that mark.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

Irving and the Bucs have a favorable matchup to make that milestone happen in Week 17, as the Panthers come to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday with the worst run defense in the league.

Carolina is allowing 175.2 yards per game on the ground and despite beating Arizona 36-30 in overtime on Sunday, the defense allowed James Conner to average 7.8 yards per carry on 15 carries which equaled out to 117 yards. Quarterback Kyler Murray also averaged 7.9 yards per carry, running for 63 yards on eight attempts.

And remember, Irving just had a career day against the Panthers back in Week 13, fighting through injury to rush for 152 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Irving is averaging 5.5 yards per carry over 168 carries this season, so if he matches that average over 15 carries against Carolina on Sunday, he’ll surpass the 1,000-yard mark in his first season in the league – and with a game to spare. The 2024 fourth-round pick also missed most of the Raiders game, so his efficiency looks even more impressive.

Bucky Irving Closing In On More Bucs History

Not only is Bucky Irving closing in on becoming the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015, but he’s also looking to become the ninth Buccaneer running back to reach 1,000 yards in a season. And it would be just the 13th 1,000-yard rushing season in franchise history. Here’s the list as it is now:

Bucs RB Doug Martin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

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 looks primed to join that list within the next two weeks, and potentially as soon as this Sunday. Once he does, he’ll be looking to rise up the ranks in terms of Tampa Bay’s all-time rookie rushing leaders. That list looks like this right 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 could very realistically move ahead of Blount for fourth and Rhett for third, and a couple explosive performances against the Panthers and Saints over the next two weeks could even see him leap Williams for the second-most rushing yards by a Buccaneers rookie running back.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving Photo by: USA Today

If Irving can reach the 1,000-yard mark, he’ll inch closer to finishing with a Top 10 rushing season in franchise history, too. At 920 yards, he already has the 18th-most rushing yards by a Tampa Bay back in a single season. With seven more yards, he’ll pass Michael Pittman (926 in 2004) for 17th, while 30 more yards will move him ahead of Mike Alstott (949 in 1999) for 16th.

With 59 more rushing yards, Irving will pass Ronald Jones II (978 in 2020) and Warrick Dunn (978 in 1997) for 14th, while 71 more yards will give him 13th, ahead of backfield mate Rachaad White (990 in 2023).

Irving only needs 107 yards over the next two games to reach the Top 10 single-season rushing leaders in team history, as Warrick Dunn’s 1,026 yards in 1998 is currently the 10th-best single-season mark for any Buccaneer running back.

It’s already been a special rookie season for Bucky Irving, and if he can finish strong over the Bucs’ final two regular season games, he’ll further etch his name into franchise history. And as it usually is with the rookie out of Oregon, it should be fun to watch.