On Monday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that second-year running back Bucky Irving is “not in play” to take the field for Monday night’s Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Irving has missed each of the Buccaneers’ last two games after suffering shoulder and foot injuries in a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Veteran ball-carrier Rachaad White has served as Tampa Bay’s lead back in Irving’s absence, backed up by third-year running back Sean Tucker.
The Buccaneers’ added a new running back option to their depth chart on Tuesday, signing Michael Wiley to the practice squad. The team released tight end Caden Prieskorn in a corresponding move. Riley could be elevated to the 53-man roster ahead of Tampa Bay’s Week 7 game.
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Wiley, 24, played five years of college football with the Arizona Wildcats. Through 49 collegiate games, he rushed for 1,712 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, and caught 123 passes for 1,150 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air.
Wiley signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024, spending time on and off the practice squad in his rookie campaign. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, but was released in final roster cuts before the start of the season.
Despite the absence of Irving and several other key offensive weapons like Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, MVP candidate Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers are still one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Following this past Sunday’s Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay is 5-1 — tied for the best record in the league with the Indianapolis Colts.
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Recent reports indicate that Irving could miss “1-2 more weeks” with his injuries, meaning he’s unlikely to return until after the Buccaneers’ Week 9 bye. The team is scheduled to face off against the New Orleans Saints in Week 8.
Monday night’s primetime matchup against the Lions will kickoff at 7 p.m. ET in Week 7.
