{
  "id": 4959065,
  "title": "Matthew Berry is down on Bucky Irving, should the Bucs be worried too?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/matthew-berry-is-down-on-bucky-irving-should-the-bucs-be-worried-too",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-01T22:55:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/matthew-berry-down-bucky-irving-225531063.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Matthew Berry expresses skepticism about Bucky Irving's performance heading into the 2026 season, based on his analysis which originates from a fantasy football viewpoint. However, these concerns could also indicate a more significant issue for the Buccaneers.\n\nAfter a stellar rookie year, Irving's second season was markedly different. In 2024, he rushed for 1,122 yards, scored eight touchdowns, and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. By the following season, he only managed 588 rushing yards and just one touchdown in 10 games, with an average of 3.4 yards per attempt. Berry highlights another worrying statistic - Irving's yards after contact per attempt averaged only 2.3, the lowest among running backs with at least 100 carries. Moreover, only five percent of his attempts resulted in gains of ten yards or more.\n\nIrving's explosive ability to create yards beyond what his blockers provided was a significant factor in his rookie success. He was adept at making the first defender miss and transforming ordinary runs into explosive plays. However, Irving missed seven games due to shoulder and foot injuries, and ultimately underwent offseason shoulder surgery. Tampa Bay's offensive line further suffered injuries, with the starting five never playing together during the season. Despite these challenges, Irving still managed to be productive as a receiver, catching 30 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns in just 10 games.\n\nThe arrival of Kenneth Gainwell adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Gainwell provides the Buccaneers with an experienced receiving option, likely to lessen Irving's workload. He also brings a significant production record, accumulating 1,023 yards from scrimmage for Pittsburgh in 2025. If Irving's yards per carry and ability to create after contact improve as the offensive line recovers, last season's performance may be seen as more of an injury-related setback than a reflection of Irving's overall capabilities.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}