Most of the Tampa Bay minicamp talk centered on the Bucs being lots more healthy and the additions of pass rushers and inside linebackers to help shore up a defense that gave up 28 points per game last season.
But there also is quite a lot of intrigue on the other side of the ball. There's a big flip happening at running back, where Bucky Irving made a huge impact as a rookie in 2024 (1,122 yards, 8 TDs) before stumbling backward last season (588 yards, 1 TD). The step back was largely due to foot and shoulder injuries that kept him out much of last season.
Kenneth Gainwell rounds out Bucs running game
The Bucs signed former Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year deal ostensibly to be Irving’s backup after the former was named Pittsburgh’s 2025 MVP following his 1,023 yards and eight touchdowns last season. His 114 carries were a career high as were his 4.7 yards per carry.
But Gainwell is a dual threat. He has outstanding hands and can pivot on a dime. Last season, he had a career-high 73 receptions for a career-high 486 yards and a career-high three TD receptions.
Molly Hatchet has a song called “Jukin’ City.” It seems Gainwell should live there.
Bucs OC Zac Robinson will use the dynamic Gainwell
Gainwell could be an almost perfect fit for a Bucs offense that under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will focus more on the running game and catches from the backfield.
A couple of ESPN fantasy football gurus dubbed Gainwell as a sleeper.
"Kenny Gainwell's role could be larger than expected in Tampa Bay," wrote Eric Moody. "From Week 8 on last season, Gainwell, then a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, averaged 13.3 touches and 17.8 fantasy points per game. He was also a capable receiver out of the backfield, ranking near the top of the position in yards per route run during that stretch. Rachaad White is gone, and Bucky Irving is projected for 61% of the touches for the Buccaneers, leaving Gainwell with standalone appeal and RB2 upside if his role grows."
Eric Karabell had similar thoughts.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has been equally impressed with Gainwell.
“He has been doing great,” Mayfield said. “He's somebody that I've respected from afar when he was with Philly and the Steelers. You can tell he's a sharp kid who's always been able to do pass protection stuff. He was doing that in Philly from very early on in his career, and then in Pittsburgh, he actually balled out."
