As the Los Angeles Rams prepare for a primetime matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they’re getting unexpected help from the opposing sideline. Despite practicing well throughout the week and generating optimism inside the building, rookie running back Bucky Irving will not play against Los Angeles. Instead, Tampa Bay has elected to hold him out one more week and target his return for Week 13.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news, reporting, “Irving looked strong at practice this week and might have been able to play vs. the Rams, but the team decided to hold him out, give him one more week and have him return next Sunday.” For the Rams, who face a creative offense built around balance and space, the absence of Tampa Bay’s most explosive skill player is a significant advantage.
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Confusion, Speculation, and the Coach’s Clarification
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Irving hasn’t played since Week 4 due to shoulder and foot injuries, though an unusual amount of mystery surrounded his absence. ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio suggested Irving wouldn’t be returning “anytime soon,” hinting at an off-field concern. That speculation widened unnecessarily, prompting head coach Todd Bowles to clarify the situation.
“Not going through much off the field,” Bowles said. “He got hurt, he didn’t handle it well because he had been hurt for the first time. He had a full practice this week… we’re just preparing him for the Arizona game.”
Local reporters, including Rick Stroud and Greg Auman, noted Irving struggled emotionally with his first extended absence from the game, but Bowles refuted the idea that there was a deeper issue beyond the injury.
A Massive Loss for a Bucs Offense Already Slipping
Without Irving, Tampa Bay’s run game has plummeted to 22nd in the league. His dual-threat profile — 1,122 rushing yards and 392 receiving yards as a rookie — transformed their offense. And in just four games this season, he produced 430 scrimmage yards. The Bucs simply do not have another player who replicates that burst.
The timing of his continued absence could not be worse for Tampa Bay. At 6–4, they’ve dropped three of four and face one of the NFL’s hottest teams in the 8–2 Rams. Los Angeles’ defense, growing stronger by the week, now draws a matchup missing Tampa Bay’s most dangerous playmaker.
Rams Poised to Capitalize on a Team in Transition
Irving’s anticipated return won’t come until Week 13 against Arizona. For now, the Rams catch a break. Their surging defensive front will attack a Buccaneers offense that has struggled to find rhythm without its breakout star.
For a Rams team pushing for NFC supremacy, Tampa Bay’s stunning decision couldn’t arrive at a better time.
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