Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Reduce Bucky Irving’s Workload
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Nov. 9, 2026, that the team will use its bye week to evaluate and likely reduce the workload for running back Bucky Irving to keep him healthy across a 17-game season. Bowles framed the decision as balancing the hot-hand approach with the long-term goal of preserving the teams most productive offensive weapon. The move follows a heavy recent usage pattern that has put Irving at the center of the Buccaneers ground attack.
Bucky Irving, listed at 5-foot-10, 195-pound, has 825 rushing yards this season and ranks fourth in the NFL while leading Tampa Bay with eight total touchdowns. The Buccaneers credited Irving with a resurgence to his 2024 rookie form in producing those numbers. Coaches said they will study how they are deploying him and consider reducing his snap and carry totals going forward.
Bowles acknowledged the challenge of cutting back while Irving is playing well but said the team must be mindful of durability over a longer season. He said the bye week has come at a perfect time and that Irving is tough and handling everything, but Bowles questioned whether Irving has the frame to sustain that workload. Bowles added that the team is going to have to take some carries off Irving even though he is the clubs bellcow and is playing great football.
The Buccaneers have leaned heavily on the run during the last five weeks, going 3-2 while Irving logged 111 carries in that span. That mark made him the first Tampa Bay back with 110 or more carries in a five-game stretch since Doug Martin in 2013. The team noted that Martin was limited to six games that season because of injuries.
Bowles also said the bye will be used to assess the passing game and to seek more balanced offensive production. Baker Mayfield had a season-high 243 yards passing on Sunday night in Chicago, and the staff will examine play calls, Mayfields mechanics and what he sees on the field. Coaches said they must make decisions quickly to address recent challenges in the passing attack.
Bowles listed turnovers as the top concern and said the staff will review pass protection and penalties that have stalled drives. He singled out false starts as a recurring issue that places the offense at first-and-15 too often. Bowles said the staff must address schematic and execution matters for the betterment of the team before play resumes after the break.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The decision to examine Irvings workload during the bye follows a concentrated usage pattern: 111 carries in five games and 825 rushing yards this season. Preserving Irvings availability across a full 17-game slate is a clear priority, and the staffs plan to study personnel usage, the passing game and protection issues is a direct response to that priority. The choices made during the break will affect Tampa Bays offensive balance and Irvings role in the second half of the season.