TL;DR
- Bucky Irving sidelined since Week 4 with shoulder and foot injuries.
- Irving has struggled emotionally with being injured and away from the team.
- He is expected to miss Week 12 but likely play in Week 13.
- Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles expects Irving to be close to returning.
It doesn't look like we'll be seeing Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving on the field in Week 12.
Irving has been sidelined since Week 4 due to shoulder and foot ailments, and we've now learned that his delay in returning to play stems from factors beyond just his injuries.
According to The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud, the Buccaneers running back has "struggled emotionally" with being injured and away from the team and that has contributed to his absence.
"Bucky Irving struggled emotionally with being hurt and not on the field with his team for the first time in his career after suffering foot and shoulder injuries that has forced him to miss six games, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed," Stroud wrote.
"But mentally, Irving struggled with being injured and away from his team for the first time in his career. His personal support system has also been fractured by the loss of family members," Stroud added.
When it comes to Irving's expected return date, Stroud said he is expected to be ruled out this week, but Irving will "likely" play in Week 13.
"The Bucs are expected to rule Irving out of Sunday’s game against the Rams but it’s likely he plays next week when the Bucs hosts the Cardinals," Stroud wrote.
FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles will provide an update on Irving after practice on Friday but added that Irving is "in a good place" and is "close to a return to playing."
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio initially shared the news of Irving's off-field concern, though they did not detail the exact nature of the problem.
Irving returned to practice last week has remained involved this week, though in a restricted capacity. Tampa Bay is set to release its final injury report for the week on Friday, at which point Irving's status will be definitively confirmed.
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