Buccaneers' Bucky Irving says faith, teammates helped him cope with injuries

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Nov 26, 2025

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — The first injuries of his football career and the solitude that comes with being away from the huddle shook unflappable Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving.

But Irving said Wednesday that his faith and his Bucs support system prevented him from having to face his hardest stretch as an NFL player alone.

“I want to give all glory to God, man. Without him, I wouldn’t be in this position,” said Irving, who could return Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals after missing seven games with foot and shoulder injuries.

“I give glory to him, man, each and every day, because where I’m from not a lot of people get this opportunity ... But to be in here and to go through what I went through, to be able to be back up here and be around my guys, it’s exciting.”

There have been multiple reports that Irving, who was injured in the Sept. 28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, was struggling emotionally to accept that he could not play for what has become a two-month stretch.

“It’s tough, man, you’re first time being hurt,” Irving said. “I mean, when I step on that field, like I always say, I don’t take this game for granted. I love what I do every day, I love my teammates, and when I go out there I play and I show them each and every time that I get the ball I’m trying to make plays and make things happen for this organization and this team, help them any type of fashion to help them win football games.

“When God takes something away from you and he’s telling you to get more closer to him and just lean on him, because it’s being able to be down and have something taken away from you, everything was all right because I had the right people around me.”

To make matters worse, the Bucs struggled during Irving’s absence, going 3-4, including three straight losses to the Patriots, Bills and Rams.

“It’s always tough not being able to be out there and going to war with your guys,” Irving said. “But just being out there to go through that and learn from that and being able to move on, I’m happy to be back with my guys.”

Irving said he felt support from the whole Bucs organization.

“I can’t name everybody, from this person to this person. But the people who were with me every step of the way know who they are, and I want to give them big praise and a shout out to them for helping me throughout this process, because they’ve been around and they’ve seen it before,” he said.

“So, just being able to trust them, to trust their plan to help me get back and to be around my teammates, because I love my teammates.”

Fortunately, the Bucs have a deep running back room that also includes Rachaad White and Sean Tucker.

“Everyone in that room is a great back, and I don’t look at it as I’m the starter,” Irving said. “Rachaad is a starter, and Sean Tucker is a starter. We play for one another, and I’m trying to bring that to this room and show whoever is in the game they can be a lead back. And whoever is in the game, they’ve got to play for one another, because when you know you’ve got your brother’s back, everything is going to be all right. And knowing that you’re going out there giving it your all.”

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