Rueben Bain Jr. has not played since Week 2, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not won at all. The first-round edge rusher from Miami was ruled out again for Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, his second straight missed game with a groin injury. Tampa Bay lost two rookie starters before the Week 3 game, when linebacker Josiah Trotter was also ruled out.
His grade has not moved in that time. Bain sits at 38.7 in PFF’s weekly first-round rookie grades, last among 13 rookie edge rushers. PFF’s player page has him 114th of 114 edge defenders overall.
What Rueben Bain Jr.’s 38.7 grade reflects
It reflects two starts and 76 snaps. The No. 15 pick has two pressures, both hurries, with no sacks and one tackle, according to PFF. His pass-rush grade is 47.8 and his run-defense grade is 43.7. He had one tackle in the opener at Cincinnati and did not record a statistic against Cleveland in Week 2.
Health is part of the story. The Buccaneers have listed him with both groin and shoulder injuries on their practice reports, and he did not practice at all in the two weeks he missed.
“It’s still a young season,” coach Todd Bowles said before Week 3. “We still have great expectations for him, so we’ve just got to get him healthy.”
Why Tampa Bay needs him back
The pass rush has thinned out. Tampa Bay did not record a sack against Green Bay and has six sacks in four games. PFF credited the defense with seven pressures on 60 snaps against the Packers.
The players in his spot have graded well individually. David Walker has a 78.3 grade and a team-high two sacks on 52 snaps, and Al-Quadin Muhammad is at 72.9, according to PFF. Yaya Diaby, who has played a group-high 153 snaps, leads the edge rushers with seven pressures and has yet to get a sack. His pass-rush grade is 50.2.
Bain was a full participant on Monday’s estimated practice report, the first sign he could return. The Buccaneers (0-4) visit the Dallas Cowboys at 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday on Prime Video.
Tampa Bay is also without quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has a thumb injury, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who has a rib injury. Jalon Daniels, who made his first NFL start against Green Bay, is in line to start again. That leaves less margin for a defense that has not been getting to the passer.
The stakes are already showing up elsewhere. Athlon’s latest 2027 mock draft has Tampa Bay taking a pass rusher at No. 3.
