After an extended absence, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving will finally make his return to the field in Week 13.
On Monday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that the plan is for Irving to play on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, ending his seven-game absence.
"He's going to practice all this week, and if he's well by Friday, he'll play on Sunday," Bowles said, per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
Irving's absence was a result of shoulder and foot injuries, but he also dealt with a mental health issue as a result of his lengthy absence. As Bowles mentioned last week, Irving didn't handle being away from the team well.
“I was alright because I had the right people around me," Irving said on Wednesday, according to River Wells of Bucs Gameday.
“I’m here. I’m ready to play football for my team," Irving added.
Bucky Irving may see limited workload
After having missed so much time, the fear among fantasy football managers who have been waiting for Irving's return is he won't take on a big workload in his first game back as he re-acclimates himself after a two-month absence.
When addressing the media on Wednesday, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard revealed that could be the case like it was for wide receiver Chris Godwin when he returned to the field in Week 12.
"OC Josh Grizzard compared the potential workload for Bucky Irving in his return to action this Sunday with how the team handled Chis Godwin’s return last week," Smith reported.
Godwin's limited workload included the veteran wideout seeing just 25 snaps. He turned those snaps into just two catches for nine yards.
Bucky Irving fantasy advice
Irving averaged 49.5 snaps per contest in the four games he played in earlier this season, so 25 would amount to nearly half of his normal workload.
While that could be enough for good fantasy production if Irving can rip off some big runs and/or score a touchdown or two, it also makes him a very risky fantasy play.
With Rachaad White and Sean Tucker also looming in the same backfield, it might be smart to sit all Buccaneers running backs this week, barring an update stating Irving is going to be taking on a full workload, which seems unlikely in his first game back.
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