Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles might have let it slip that RB Bucky Irving is in danger of missing the start of the season. "We expect him sometime back in the summer or the fall," Bowles said Tuesday. What looked like a relatively harmless shoulder surgery in February now carries legit Week 1 downside for fantasy drafters.
Excuse us, Todd?
We knew that Irving underwent shoulder surgery shortly after the season to address an injury he suffered in Week 4. He missed the next seven games but returned for the final six. Multiple reports in February said that the surgery wouldn't impact his readiness for the 2026 campaign.
But Irving has yet to participate in any offseason work. And now this from Bowles.
It's far from a concrete timeline from the coach. But we imagine that Bowles wouldn't add "or the fall" if he didn't have some idea about where Irving is at in his rehab. Here's the full clip if you want to judge for yourself:
Bucs HC Todd Bowles says Bucky Irving is recovering well and is expected back sometime during the summer or fall. pic.twitter.com/50CI6kNTg6
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) May 26, 2026
We already had concerns about Irving's role this season. RB Kenneth Gainwell is a threat to steal pass-catching work, and RB Sean Tucker was already vulturing goal-line carries last year.
This shoulder issue is just another reason to be wary of drafting Irving.
Irving has been an easy avoid at his 4th-round ADP.
This latest news figures to spook drafters, though. We'll see how fall Irving starts to fall in drafts. He'd certainly be worth a look in Round 6.
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