Can Bucky Irving bounce back in 2026? There are doubts
Bucs running back is facing a critical year in 2026 after underwhelming in 2025.
Bleacher Report raised a fair question about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ' backfield coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft, and it centers on whether Bucky Irving can handle a larger role moving forward. The concern is not about his ability in space, but whether that translates to consistent production across a full workload. His 2025 game log reflects the issue.
Irving posted multiple outings below 3. 0 yards per carry, including 2. 6 against Atlanta, 2.
6 against the Jets, and 2. 1 against Miami. Even when the volume was there, the efficiency did not follow, such as his 26 carries for 85 yards against Carolina, which came out to 3.
3 yards per attempt. There were flashes, including 4. 2 yards per carry against Houston and Philadelphia, but those performances did not stack week to week.