diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
index 5585f872d0..c57c5cc2af 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
@@ -2843,7 +2843,7 @@ bnxt_rx_descriptor_status_op(void *rx_queue, uint16_t offset)
 	struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq = (struct bnxt_rx_queue *)rx_queue;
 	struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr;
 	struct bnxt_cp_ring_info *cpr;
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *rx_buf;
+	struct rte_mbuf *rx_buf;
 	struct rx_pkt_cmpl *rxcmp;
 	uint32_t cons, cp_cons;
 	int rc;
@@ -2872,8 +2872,8 @@ bnxt_rx_descriptor_status_op(void *rx_queue, uint16_t offset)
 		if (CMPL_VALID(rxcmp, !cpr->valid))
 			return RTE_ETH_RX_DESC_DONE;
 	}
-	rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons];
-	if (rx_buf->mbuf == NULL)
+	rx_buf = rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons];
+	if (rx_buf == NULL)
 		return RTE_ETH_RX_DESC_UNAVAIL;
 
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c
index a1b2c4bf97..bea9f3d1c1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_reps.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ static const struct eth_dev_ops bnxt_vf_rep_dev_ops = {
 uint16_t
 bnxt_vfr_recv(uint16_t port_id, uint16_t queue_id, struct rte_mbuf *mbuf)
 {
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *prod_rx_buf;
+	struct rte_mbuf **prod_rx_buf;
 	struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rep_rxr;
 	struct bnxt_rx_queue *rep_rxq;
 	struct rte_eth_dev *vfr_eth_dev;
@@ -54,10 +54,9 @@ bnxt_vfr_recv(uint16_t port_id, uint16_t queue_id, struct rte_mbuf *mbuf)
 	mask = rep_rxr->rx_ring_struct->ring_mask;
 
 	/* Put this mbuf on the RxQ of the Representor */
-	prod_rx_buf =
-		&rep_rxr->rx_buf_ring[rep_rxr->rx_prod++ & mask];
-	if (!prod_rx_buf->mbuf) {
-		prod_rx_buf->mbuf = mbuf;
+	prod_rx_buf = &rep_rxr->rx_buf_ring[rep_rxr->rx_prod++ & mask];
+	if (!*prod_rx_buf) {
+		*prod_rx_buf = mbuf;
 		vfr_bp->rx_bytes[que] += mbuf->pkt_len;
 		vfr_bp->rx_pkts[que]++;
 	} else {
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ bnxt_vf_rep_rx_burst(void *rx_queue,
 		     uint16_t nb_pkts)
 {
 	struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq = rx_queue;
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *cons_rx_buf;
+	struct rte_mbuf **cons_rx_buf;
 	struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr;
 	uint16_t nb_rx_pkts = 0;
 	uint16_t mask, i;
@@ -87,11 +86,11 @@ bnxt_vf_rep_rx_burst(void *rx_queue,
 	mask = rxr->rx_ring_struct->ring_mask;
 	for (i = 0; i < nb_pkts; i++) {
 		cons_rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[rxr->rx_cons & mask];
-		if (!cons_rx_buf->mbuf)
+		if (*cons_rx_buf == NULL)
 			return nb_rx_pkts;
-		rx_pkts[nb_rx_pkts] = cons_rx_buf->mbuf;
+		rx_pkts[nb_rx_pkts] = *cons_rx_buf;
 		rx_pkts[nb_rx_pkts]->port = rxq->port_id;
-		cons_rx_buf->mbuf = NULL;
+		*cons_rx_buf = NULL;
 		nb_rx_pkts++;
 		rxr->rx_cons++;
 	}
@@ -559,7 +558,7 @@ int bnxt_vf_rep_rx_queue_setup_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
 	struct bnxt *parent_bp = rep_bp->parent_dev->data->dev_private;
 	struct bnxt_rx_queue *parent_rxq;
 	struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq;
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *buf_ring;
+	struct rte_mbuf **buf_ring;
 	int rc = 0;
 
 	if (queue_idx >= BNXT_MAX_VF_REP_RINGS) {
@@ -611,7 +610,7 @@ int bnxt_vf_rep_rx_queue_setup_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
 		goto out;
 
 	buf_ring = rte_zmalloc_socket("bnxt_rx_vfr_buf_ring",
-				      sizeof(struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd) *
+				      sizeof(struct rte_mbuf *) *
 				      rxq->rx_ring->rx_ring_struct->ring_size,
 				      RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE, socket_id);
 	if (!buf_ring) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ring.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ring.c
index 8f2296b293..f7f6ee8049 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ring.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ring.c
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ int bnxt_alloc_rings(struct bnxt *bp, uint16_t qidx,
 			rx_ring->vmem =
 			    (void **)((char *)mz->addr + rx_vmem_start);
 			rx_ring_info->rx_buf_ring =
-			    (struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *)rx_ring->vmem;
+			    (struct rte_mbuf **)rx_ring->vmem;
 		}
 
 		rx_ring = rx_ring_info->ag_ring_struct;
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ int bnxt_alloc_rings(struct bnxt *bp, uint16_t qidx,
 			rx_ring->vmem =
 			    (void **)((char *)mz->addr + ag_vmem_start);
 			rx_ring_info->ag_buf_ring =
-			    (struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *)rx_ring->vmem;
+			    (struct rte_mbuf **)rx_ring->vmem;
 		}
 
 		rx_ring_info->ag_bitmap =
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxq.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxq.c
index e42308a97f..db9aa1f3ed 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxq.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxq.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ int bnxt_mq_rx_configure(struct bnxt *bp)
 
 void bnxt_rx_queue_release_mbufs(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq)
 {
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *sw_ring;
+	struct rte_mbuf **sw_ring;
 	struct bnxt_tpa_info *tpa_info;
 	uint16_t i;
 
@@ -210,9 +210,9 @@ void bnxt_rx_queue_release_mbufs(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq)
 	if (sw_ring) {
 		for (i = 0;
 		     i < rxq->rx_ring->rx_ring_struct->ring_size; i++) {
-			if (sw_ring[i].mbuf) {
-				rte_pktmbuf_free_seg(sw_ring[i].mbuf);
-				sw_ring[i].mbuf = NULL;
+			if (sw_ring[i]) {
+				rte_pktmbuf_free_seg(sw_ring[i]);
+				sw_ring[i] = NULL;
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ void bnxt_rx_queue_release_mbufs(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq)
 	if (sw_ring) {
 		for (i = 0;
 		     i < rxq->rx_ring->ag_ring_struct->ring_size; i++) {
-			if (sw_ring[i].mbuf) {
-				rte_pktmbuf_free_seg(sw_ring[i].mbuf);
-				sw_ring[i].mbuf = NULL;
+			if (sw_ring[i]) {
+				rte_pktmbuf_free_seg(sw_ring[i]);
+				sw_ring[i] = NULL;
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.c
index b086898148..92102e3d57 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static inline int bnxt_alloc_rx_data(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 				     uint16_t prod)
 {
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd *rxbd = &rxr->rx_desc_ring[prod];
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[prod];
+	struct rte_mbuf **rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[prod];
 	struct rte_mbuf *mbuf;
 
 	mbuf = __bnxt_alloc_rx_data(rxq->mb_pool);
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static inline int bnxt_alloc_rx_data(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	rx_buf->mbuf = mbuf;
+	*rx_buf = mbuf;
 	mbuf->data_off = RTE_PKTMBUF_HEADROOM;
 
 	rxbd->address = rte_cpu_to_le_64(rte_mbuf_data_iova_default(mbuf));
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static inline int bnxt_alloc_ag_data(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 				     uint16_t prod)
 {
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd *rxbd = &rxr->ag_desc_ring[prod];
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *rx_buf = &rxr->ag_buf_ring[prod];
+	struct rte_mbuf **rx_buf = &rxr->ag_buf_ring[prod];
 	struct rte_mbuf *mbuf;
 
 	if (rxbd == NULL) {
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ static inline int bnxt_alloc_ag_data(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	rx_buf->mbuf = mbuf;
+	*rx_buf = mbuf;
 	mbuf->data_off = RTE_PKTMBUF_HEADROOM;
 
 	rxbd->address = rte_cpu_to_le_64(rte_mbuf_data_iova_default(mbuf));
@@ -95,15 +95,15 @@ static inline void bnxt_reuse_rx_mbuf(struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr,
 			       struct rte_mbuf *mbuf)
 {
 	uint16_t prod = RING_NEXT(rxr->rx_ring_struct, rxr->rx_prod);
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *prod_rx_buf;
+	struct rte_mbuf **prod_rx_buf;
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd *prod_bd;
 
 	prod_rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[prod];
 
-	RTE_ASSERT(prod_rx_buf->mbuf == NULL);
+	RTE_ASSERT(*prod_rx_buf == NULL);
 	RTE_ASSERT(mbuf != NULL);
 
-	prod_rx_buf->mbuf = mbuf;
+	*prod_rx_buf = mbuf;
 
 	prod_bd = &rxr->rx_desc_ring[prod];
 
@@ -116,13 +116,14 @@ static inline
 struct rte_mbuf *bnxt_consume_rx_buf(struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr,
 				     uint16_t cons)
 {
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *cons_rx_buf;
+	struct rte_mbuf **cons_rx_buf;
 	struct rte_mbuf *mbuf;
 
 	cons_rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons];
-	RTE_ASSERT(cons_rx_buf->mbuf != NULL);
-	mbuf = cons_rx_buf->mbuf;
-	cons_rx_buf->mbuf = NULL;
+	RTE_ASSERT(*cons_rx_buf != NULL);
+	mbuf = *cons_rx_buf;
+	*cons_rx_buf = NULL;
+
 	return mbuf;
 }
 
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ static int bnxt_rx_pages(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 	bool is_thor_tpa = tpa_info && BNXT_CHIP_THOR(rxq->bp);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < agg_buf; i++) {
-		struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *ag_buf;
+		struct rte_mbuf **ag_buf;
 		struct rte_mbuf *ag_mbuf;
 
 		if (is_thor_tpa) {
@@ -245,7 +246,7 @@ static int bnxt_rx_pages(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 		ag_cons = rxcmp->opaque;
 		RTE_ASSERT(ag_cons <= rxr->ag_ring_struct->ring_mask);
 		ag_buf = &rxr->ag_buf_ring[ag_cons];
-		ag_mbuf = ag_buf->mbuf;
+		ag_mbuf = *ag_buf;
 		RTE_ASSERT(ag_mbuf != NULL);
 
 		ag_mbuf->data_len = rte_le_to_cpu_16(rxcmp->len);
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ static int bnxt_rx_pages(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq,
 		last->next = ag_mbuf;
 		last = ag_mbuf;
 
-		ag_buf->mbuf = NULL;
+		*ag_buf = NULL;
 
 		/*
 		 * As aggregation buffer consumed out of order in TPA module,
@@ -866,10 +867,10 @@ uint16_t bnxt_recv_pkts(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 
 		for (; cnt;
 			i = RING_NEXT(rxr->rx_ring_struct, i), cnt--) {
-			struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[i];
+			struct rte_mbuf **rx_buf = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[i];
 
 			/* Buffer already allocated for this index. */
-			if (rx_buf->mbuf != NULL)
+			if (*rx_buf != NULL)
 				continue;
 
 			/* This slot is empty. Alloc buffer for Rx */
@@ -960,7 +961,7 @@ int bnxt_init_rx_ring_struct(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq, unsigned int socket_id)
 	ring->ring_mask = ring->ring_size - 1;
 	ring->bd = (void *)rxr->rx_desc_ring;
 	ring->bd_dma = rxr->rx_desc_mapping;
-	ring->vmem_size = ring->ring_size * sizeof(struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd);
+	ring->vmem_size = ring->ring_size * sizeof(struct rte_mbuf *);
 	ring->vmem = (void **)&rxr->rx_buf_ring;
 	ring->fw_ring_id = INVALID_HW_RING_ID;
 
@@ -998,7 +999,7 @@ int bnxt_init_rx_ring_struct(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq, unsigned int socket_id)
 	ring->ring_mask = ring->ring_size - 1;
 	ring->bd = (void *)rxr->ag_desc_ring;
 	ring->bd_dma = rxr->ag_desc_mapping;
-	ring->vmem_size = ring->ring_size * sizeof(struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd);
+	ring->vmem_size = ring->ring_size * sizeof(struct rte_mbuf *);
 	ring->vmem = (void **)&rxr->ag_buf_ring;
 	ring->fw_ring_id = INVALID_HW_RING_ID;
 
@@ -1039,7 +1040,7 @@ int bnxt_init_one_rx_ring(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq)
 
 	prod = rxr->rx_prod;
 	for (i = 0; i < ring->ring_size; i++) {
-		if (unlikely(!rxr->rx_buf_ring[i].mbuf)) {
+		if (unlikely(!rxr->rx_buf_ring[i])) {
 			if (bnxt_alloc_rx_data(rxq, rxr, prod) != 0) {
 				PMD_DRV_LOG(WARNING,
 					    "init'ed rx ring %d with %d/%d mbufs only\n",
@@ -1057,7 +1058,7 @@ int bnxt_init_one_rx_ring(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq)
 	prod = rxr->ag_prod;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ring->ring_size; i++) {
-		if (unlikely(!rxr->ag_buf_ring[i].mbuf)) {
+		if (unlikely(!rxr->ag_buf_ring[i])) {
 			if (bnxt_alloc_ag_data(rxq, rxr, prod) != 0) {
 				PMD_DRV_LOG(WARNING,
 					    "init'ed AG ring %d with %d/%d mbufs only\n",
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.h b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.h
index 2bf46cd910..5b9b5f3108 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.h
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxr.h
@@ -181,10 +181,6 @@ struct bnxt_tpa_info {
 	struct rx_tpa_v2_abuf_cmpl	agg_arr[TPA_MAX_NUM_SEGS];
 };
 
-struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd {
-	struct rte_mbuf		*mbuf; /* data associated with RX descriptor */
-};
-
 struct bnxt_rx_ring_info {
 	uint16_t		rx_prod;
 	uint16_t		ag_prod;
@@ -194,8 +190,8 @@ struct bnxt_rx_ring_info {
 
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd	*rx_desc_ring;
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd	*ag_desc_ring;
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd	*rx_buf_ring; /* sw ring */
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd	*ag_buf_ring; /* sw ring */
+	struct rte_mbuf		**rx_buf_ring; /* sw ring */
+	struct rte_mbuf		**ag_buf_ring; /* sw ring */
 
 	rte_iova_t		rx_desc_mapping;
 	rte_iova_t		ag_desc_mapping;
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_neon.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_neon.c
index bf76c2ac26..eff196f3a0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_neon.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_neon.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ static inline void
 bnxt_rxq_rearm(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq, struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr)
 {
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd *rxbds = &rxr->rx_desc_ring[rxq->rxrearm_start];
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *rx_bufs = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[rxq->rxrearm_start];
+	struct rte_mbuf **rx_bufs = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[rxq->rxrearm_start];
 	struct rte_mbuf *mb0, *mb1;
 	int i;
 
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ bnxt_rxq_rearm(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq, struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr)
 		uint64x2_t buf_addr0, buf_addr1;
 		uint64x2_t rxbd0, rxbd1;
 
-		mb0 = rx_bufs[0].mbuf;
-		mb1 = rx_bufs[1].mbuf;
+		mb0 = rx_bufs[0];
+		mb1 = rx_bufs[1];
 
 		/* Load address fields from both mbufs */
 		buf_addr0 = vld1q_u64((uint64_t *)&mb0->buf_addr);
@@ -260,9 +260,9 @@ bnxt_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 			raw_cons = tmp_raw_cons;
 			cons = rxcmp->opaque;
 
-			mbuf = rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons].mbuf;
+			mbuf = rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons];
 			rte_prefetch0(mbuf);
-			rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons].mbuf = NULL;
+			rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons] = NULL;
 
 			/* Set constant fields from mbuf initializer. */
 			vst1q_u64((uint64_t *)&mbuf->rearm_data, mbuf_init);
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_sse.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_sse.c
index 98220bc1b3..822e43343f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_sse.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_rxtx_vec_sse.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ static inline void
 bnxt_rxq_rearm(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq, struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr)
 {
 	struct rx_prod_pkt_bd *rxbds = &rxr->rx_desc_ring[rxq->rxrearm_start];
-	struct bnxt_sw_rx_bd *rx_bufs = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[rxq->rxrearm_start];
+	struct rte_mbuf **rx_bufs = &rxr->rx_buf_ring[rxq->rxrearm_start];
 	struct rte_mbuf *mb0, *mb1;
 	int i;
 
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ bnxt_rxq_rearm(struct bnxt_rx_queue *rxq, struct bnxt_rx_ring_info *rxr)
 		__m128i buf_addr0, buf_addr1;
 		__m128i rxbd0, rxbd1;
 
-		mb0 = rx_bufs[0].mbuf;
-		mb1 = rx_bufs[1].mbuf;
+		mb0 = rx_bufs[0];
+		mb1 = rx_bufs[1];
 
 		/* Load address fields from both mbufs */
 		buf_addr0 = _mm_loadu_si128((__m128i *)&mb0->buf_addr);
@@ -265,9 +265,9 @@ bnxt_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue, struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 			raw_cons = tmp_raw_cons;
 			cons = rxcmp->opaque;
 
-			mbuf = rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons].mbuf;
+			mbuf = rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons];
 			rte_prefetch0(mbuf);
-			rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons].mbuf = NULL;
+			rxr->rx_buf_ring[cons] = NULL;
 
 			/* Set constant fields from mbuf initializer. */
 			_mm_store_si128((__m128i *)&mbuf->rearm_data,
