Bucky Irving isn’t picky about how he contributes to the team. The rookie running back is happy with any chance to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have bounced back from a rough period to tie for first place in the NFC South.
Irving leads all NFL rookies in rushing with 732 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He shares the workload with starter Rachaad White and third-stringer Sean Tucker, helping to lessen the pressure on quarterback Baker Mayfield.
A fourth-round draft pick from Oregon, Irving recently ran for a season-high 152 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 26-23 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. He also added 33 yards receiving, bringing his total to 1,017 yards from scrimmage, leading all rookies through 12 games.
This Sunday, the Bucs (6-6) will play host to the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10), who have a standout rookie of their own, Brock Bowers, who is close to breaking the league record for catches by a rookie tight end. Bowers leads all players with 84 receptions, is fourth in receiving yards with 884, and is second in total yards from scrimmage among rookies with 895.
“I don’t really like taking all the credit. It’s those guys up front,” Irving said, giving credit to the Bucs’ improved offensive line. “I think I have to do something special for those guys for Christmas because they’re getting the job done.”
The Bucs are currently eighth in the NFL for rushing with 137.2 yards per game. They’ve gained over 100 yards rushing in nine of their 12 games this season, a significant improvement compared to only doing so nine times in the previous 34 games over the past two seasons.
Irving’s ability to avoid defenders and accelerate in open space has sparked an offense that struggled during a four-game losing streak without injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Irving isn’t bothered by still being behind White on the depth chart. White had a 38-yard run in overtime last week, setting up the winning field goal.
Coach Todd Bowles has emphasized that the Bucs, who are tied with Atlanta for the NFC South lead, need both Irving and White to succeed.
“In our room, all our success is one,” said Irving, who became the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to record back-to-back games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage in the last two weeks.
“If I’m having success,” Irving added, “everybody in the room is having success.”
