The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a tough blow on Monday night with the injuries to two key offensive players: Mike Evans suffered a hamstring injury, and Chris Godwin dislocated his ankle, leading to his season-ending designation. This leaves a significant gap in their offensive production. Both Evans and Godwin are crucial to the Buccaneers’ passing game, and the team will need contributions from all areas to secure a win against the Atlanta Falcons. Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard are expected to take on the main receiving roles, while the team may also lean on their running back trio. Rookie Bucky Irving is part of that group, but he was uncertain for this week due to a foot injury. Fortunately for Tampa Bay, it seems he will be ready to play on Sunday afternoon.
While the Buccaneers have options in starting running back Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, Irving has been the most reliable runner this season. He currently leads the team with 351 yards on 67 carries, along with three touchdowns.
With Irving in the lineup, the Buccaneers can deploy White and Tucker in other roles. Tucker will likely take on a limited number of carries, although he has shown he can manage a larger workload. White, on the other hand, provides a crucial receiving option that quarterback Baker Mayfield will rely on. He is currently the second-leading receiver among the available pass catchers, with 198 yards on 23 receptions and two touchdowns. In their previous matchup against the Falcons, both teams showcased strong offensive performances. This time, Tampa Bay may prefer to avoid a shootout, which means Irving and his fellow backs could be tasked with carrying a significant portion of the ground game.
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