Buccaneers Get Encouraging Injury Update on 1,000-Yard RB
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving.
There might finally be light at the end of the tunnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when it comes to injured running back Bucky Irving.
The Buccaneers offense has been without Irving for the last 5 games, since a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on September 28 due to a variety of injuries, although a shoulder injury has been of the most concern.
“Possibly big Bucs news,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, November 12. “RB Bucky Irving is participating in the walk thru practice. G Ben Bredeson also working. Irving has not played since Sept. 28 due to foot and shoulder injuries.”
The Buccaneers are 6-3 headed into a brutal pair of road games coming up with a trip to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 before heading all the way across the country to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
Irving, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie, has been sorely missed.
While the Buccaneers have made up the slack at wide receiver with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan out with injuries, it’s been harder to do that with Rachaad White stepping in for Irving.
“Todd Bowles said it was good to see Bucky Irving on the practice field but he was limited and it was just a walk-through,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote on his official X account. “Needs to see Irving in a full-speed practice before making any proclamations about a timetable for his return.”
Sophomore Season Falls Flat for Irving
While Irving’s follow up too a bravura rookie campaign has fallen flat to this point, he has the advantage of playing on a team that’s in first place in the NFC South Division — with a 2-game lead at that — and could very well be a dark horse contender if everyone comes back healthy over the next month who has been injured.
Right now, the perception of Irving is that rookie year was just a flash in the pan.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon called Irving the “Most Disappointing Player” on the roster in 2025.
“After averaging 5.4 yards per rush as a rookie, Irving has seen that number decline to 3.3 in 2025,” Gagnon wrote on October 24. “Only one qualified back is below that. He’s also yet to score a rushing touchdown.”
Irving had a season high 165 yards of total offense agains the Eagles — 15 carries for 63 yards and 5 receptions for 102 yards. That kind of production can flip games like the 28-23 home loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10.
Buccaneers Getting Big Production From Rookies
Right now, it seems like the only legitimate weapon 2-time Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield has on offense he can rely on is 2025 first round pick (No. 19 overall) and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka, possibly the frontrunner to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, leads the Buccaneers and is ninth in the NFL in receiving with 40 receptions for 677 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Buccaneers have also gotten a boost lately from their final pick in the 2025 draft with rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson.
“There are just two rookies across the NFL this season with 250+ receiving yards and 4+ receiving touchdowns through Week 10 … Both are Buccaneers drafted by Jason Licht,” Buccaneers Communications wrote on its official X account on November 10. “Emeka Egbuka (pick No. 19) & Tez Johnson (No. 235).”
Browns Make Announcement on Wide Receiver Signing
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Kaden Davis was added to the Browns' active roster on Wednesday.
The Cleveland Browns are adding a new receiver to the mix, promoting Kaden Davis to the active roster.
The Browns officially announced the move on Wednesday. Davis went undrafted in 2022 and has since bounced around. He’s spent time with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals on the practice squad. He spent 2023 playing for the Michigan Panthers in the USFL.
Davis spent part of last year and this season on the Browns’ practice squad. He’s been elevated for one game, recording 14 snaps on special teams. Davis also appeared in one game last season.
The Browns don’t expect Davis to be a significant contributor in their wide receiver corps, which features Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond and Cedric Tillman. But he’ll provide depth to the unit, which has struggled for most of this season. If he can continue to make an impact in practice, he might earn himself some targets on game day.
Browns Get WR Jerry Jeudy More Involved
The Browns’ offense has not been able to get going this season, averaging just 16.2 points per game. The production from the team’s wide receivers has been especially troubling. In Week 8, wide receivers accounted for just two targets in a 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots.
The Browns shifted play-callers during the bye week and Jeudy was a beneficiary of the change. Jeudy notched six catches for 78 yards and his first touchdown of the season. He had entered the matchup with just 22 receptions over eight games.
“I think they’re doing a good job of trying to get me going, start the game off and just continue on that momentum,” Jeudy said.
Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel has stressed the importance of getting Jeudy involved as the team’s top receiver. Week 10 was the first time Jeudy looked closer to the Pro Bowl talent he was last season.
“Jerry’s a great player, and want to continue to do that and he played great,” Gabriel said. “I want to get the ball to the best players on our team. That would be the emphasis forever.”
Jeudy is also working on strengthening his connection with Gabriel.
“The more we work with each other, the more confident and the more chemistry we have,” Jeudy said. “So consistency is key. So every day in practice, every week in the game, I see him getting better, and that’s all we could ask for, improvement.”
Cedric Tillman Return Gives Browns Another Weapon
The Browns’ wide receiver group has yet to be at full strength this season, a tough reality given the lack of proven depth at the position. Tillman returned on Sunday against the Jets, but rookie Isaiah Bond was out with a foot injury.
Tillman appeared in Cleveland’s first four games, posting 11 catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a hamstring injury against the Detroit Lions. He was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 30, designated for return on Nov. 3, and made his comeback against the Jets.
Tillman finished with two receptions for 11 yards in the loss, but his presence was felt. He narrowly missed hauling in a leaping catch early in the game that could have been a momentum-shifting play.
Bond logged limited reps in practice this week. If he’s able to suit up, the Browns could finally get their first look at a full receiving corps when they face the Ravens on Sunday.
