Bucky Irving gets some indirect revenge on the Eagles player that injured him

The Bucs’ star running back got hurt on an illegal play that was a key factor in the game.

Evan Winter — NFL Managing Editor
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Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) runs during the fourth quarter of a NFC wild card playoff against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without star running back Bucky Irving when it takes on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 because of an ankle injury he picked up during the Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

It occurred in the third quarter and Irving also fumbled the ball. The Eagles recovered and drove down the short field to score their only points of the second half, which proved to be the difference in the game.

As it turns out, Eagles defensive lineman Jalyx Hunt actually took Irving down via a hip-drop tackle that wasn’t called. If it were in fact called, the Bucs would’ve kept the ball and would’ve received both 15 yards and an automatic first down.

But alas, the call never came through. Fortunately, Irving and the Bucs got a little bit of indirect revenge on Saturday when Hunt was docked $23,186 by the NFL for none other than the hip-drop tackle. Even if it were after the fact, at least the league recognized the illegal maneuver and made it clear it shouldn’t have happened.

Irving could miss Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers, too

Irving was in a boot and on crutches all week long. He didn’t practice, at all, and Todd Bowles said he wanted to see Irving shed the boot by Friday for him to have a chance to play against the Seahawks.

That didn’t happen. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is the one who reported he’s in danger of missing the Week 6 matchup against the 49ers, which isn’t ideal when considering they have one of the top defenses in the NFL.

The Bucs offense is still navigating key injuries to guys like Mike Evans, Luke Goedeke, and Jalen McMillan and it’s awaiting Tristan Wirfs’ and Chris Godwin Jr.’s to get back to their old selves, as both guys made their season debuts last week against the Eagles. Irving’s injury is simply disgusting icing on top of the trash cake that has been the Bucs’ injury situation through the first month of the 2025 season.

Fortunately for the Bucs, they have two good backs in Rachaad White and Sean Tucker to pick up the slack while Irving is out. The offense won’t be as explosive without Irving’s ability to make guys miss at any moment, but it’s not like the unit will see a drastic change without its star in the backfield.

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