Running back Bucky Irving will miss his seventh game of the season this Sunday night in Los Angeles. The announcement was made by Bucs icon Rondé Barber this week. Barber, who works for the Buccaneers and recently traveled with the team to Buffalo for the game broadcast on the Buccaneers Radio Network, shared the news during The Rondé Barber Show, a WFLA-TV streaming production.
Barber confirmed that Irving’s shoulder is still not ready for a hit, which is why he will not be playing on Sunday. If Irving requires surgery, it may be best to address it now, ensuring that the team’s best running back will be fully ready for the next season.
Despite Irving's absence, the Bucs are well-covered with strong backup running backs. This season’s running back corps should be sufficient, but the bigger concern lies with the team’s management of injuries moving forward. Barber raised concerns about the current state of the medical organization and its handling of player health, noting that it may need a major overhaul.
Barber also referenced the situation with wide receiver Chris Godwin, who returned to action only to suffer another injury. He pointed out the team's handling of injuries, particularly Irving’s case, where Irving missed multiple games but was never placed on IR. These issues have raised questions about the competence of the Bucs' medical and management staff.
“The management of this organization is woefully incompetent,” said Barber, expressing frustration with how injuries have been handled this season.
Despite the ongoing injury issues, there’s hope that Irving will be ready to play when the team faces the Arizona Cardinals. However, the focus remains on improving injury management to avoid further setbacks in the future.
Rondé Barber highlights Bucky Irving's absence for Sunday’s game due to his shoulder injury and expresses concerns about the Bucs' injury management and overall team competence.