Irving’s 2023 campaign was hampered by shoulder issues, limiting him to 588 rushing yards and 277 receiving yards after a standout rookie season that yielded 1,122 rushing yards, eight rushing TDs, and 392 receiving yards across all 17 games. The recent procedure aims to stabilize the shoulder and accelerate his return ahead of the 2024 offseason program.
Tampa Bay’s evaluation remains that Irving’s struggles were injury-related rather than performance-based. With a full recovery, the organization hopes he can reclaim the form of his rookie year, potentially shouldering a larger workload next season if White departs in free agency.
A key question for the Buccaneers is how they rebuild the running back room to protect Irving from further injury similar to last season. The team could explore depth via the draft or free agency to complement Irving and provide insurance behind him.
In the near term, the surgery timeline offers cautious optimism for a full recovery in advance of offseason activities. If Irving returns to health, the Buccaneers will look to restore the balance of a productive backfield and support a rebound in his production.
This article originally appeared on Heavy Sports.
