Tampa Bay Buccaneers · 2026
Who is Bucky Irving’s handcuff?
Explore the full Tampa Bay Buccaneers depth chart, player roles and draft history
The published backfield pick
Kenny Gainwell
Behind Bucky Irving · TB
Kenny Gainwell is the preferred candidate in the published analysis, but this backfield has committee uncertainty. An absence may spread work across more than one player.
Gainwell is the listed No. 2 behind Irving.
Handcuff score
Backup opportunity, not projected points or an injury probability.
Analysis published . Status and role notes reflect that board.
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If Bucky Irving misses time
Tampa Bay’s official Sept. 9 Week 1 depth chart lists Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker in that order. Gainwell is the clearest lead replacement.
Tampa Bay’s official Sept. 9 Week 1 depth chart lists Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker in that order. Gainwell is the clearest lead replacement.
Signed to be a genuine 1A/1B with Irving and expected to split touches close to evenly. Reliable in protection and as a receiver, and with Irving's 2025 injury history he is the obvious man to absorb a full workload — though he has never carried one for long.
- availability_unverified
- stale_availability
- committee risk
Why this candidate scores here
Other candidates in this backfield
Sean Tucker
change of pace · score 43/100
Candidates and scores are from the same published board. A split workload can limit the upside of any one backup.
The production behind the names
2025 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.
| Player | Games with stats | Carries | Receptions | Total yards | PPR / game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 173 | 30 | 865 | 13.8 |
| 17 | 114 | 73 | 1023 | 13.0 |
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2025
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2025
Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.
Sources behind the analysis
Published analysis may use automated research. How evidence and recommendations are handled.
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