Gainwell emerging as a ‘dynamic receiving back’

Irving cashed in on an early touchdown on the team’s first possession on a reception from quarterback Jalon Daniels on a leak to the right side of the formation, otherwise having a relatively quiet first half. Things would change in a hurry after the break as Irving ripped off a 72-yard explosive run on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. He would cash in on his second trip to paint on the following drive from one yard out before somewhat confusingly retreating to the sideline without his helmet the following two possessions. That raised speculation that his glute injury had flared up, a notion he would dispel in the fourth quarter as he helped to ice the game. This game goes down as his first 100-yard rushing game since Week 16 of his rookie season in 2024. Irving remains a volatile RB2 ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Steelers.

Gainwell wasn’t awfully involved in the Bucs’ game plan, but he took the field for almost as many routes as Bucky Irving and cashed in with a 10-yard score in the second half. It was his first touchdown as a Buccaneer. Gainwell is still averaging just 5.3 touches per game, but this performance could earn him more work going forward, specifically on passing downs. He will be a low-end RB4 for Week 5 against the Cowboys.

A 16-touch outing isn’t bad for Irving, but the touches he did lose were extremely painful. Sean Tucker scored a goal line touchdown late in the second quarter and Kenneth Gainwell caught a touchdown from 10 yards out at the top of the fourth. Irving didn’t even see a target. It was his first game of the year without a catch. Irving remains the lead back for the Bucs, but a lack of high-value touches would cripple his fantasy value. He will be just inside the RB2 range for his Week 5 matchup with the Cowboys.

He finally got in a full session on Friday after a pair of limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday. Irving will be hard to trust with Jalon Daniels under center in Week 4 but the volume should still be there to get him on the low-end RB2 line.

The Buccaneers’ starting running back is on track to play, but consecutive limited sessions suggest this isn’t something that can simply be written off right now. Irving missed time in the fourth quarter last week with the injury. Earlier today, OC Zac Robinson indicated that the team would like to get RB2 Kenny Gainwell and RB3 Sean Tucker more involved. He cited game flow and poor production as the reasons for Gainwell’s minimal involvement. Neither aspect is guaranteed to change, and the game scripts have already been falling in Gainwell’s favor. Tucker’s range of outcomes might be wider. Regardless, Irving remains the starter and should play in Week 4 against the Packers.

The Buccaneers are 0-3, so if trailing game scripts aren’t the ideal setup for a receiving specialist, we aren’t sure what is. Robinson said he would like to get Gainwell more involved, but also added that Gainwell has to earn those reps by being more productive. Robinson said he also wants to get RB3 Sean Tucker more involved during the same presser. It sounds like this backfield still belongs to starting RB Bucky Irving, who is dealing with a glute injury, but changes are at least being considered.

Robinson described Tucker as being “special with the ball in his hands,” and said that it’s on the coaching staff to find spots to mix him in. Whether this impacts starting RB Bucky Irving basically comes down to how and when — and if — the Buccaneers get Tucker involved. Taking a few snaps away from RB2 Kenneth Gainwell would be no big deal. Utilizing Tucker in the red zone would be consequential for Irving. Hopefully, Robinson provides more insight before his team’s Week 4 game against the Packers. Stay tuned.

Irving is on track to play in Week 4 against the Packers, but monitoring his practice participation is worthwhile. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said that Irving was “not on the team’s injury report” when asked by reporters why the team’s starting running back spent much of the fourth quarter on the sideline. So much for that. For now, expect him to play and be startable as an RB2, as usual.

Irving was spotted on the sideline for the majority of the fourth quarter. It’s possible that Irving just did something that irked Bowles rather than actually suffering an injury, but given how Irving’s injuries quickly manifested last season, we’re going to want to see that on the official injury report on Wednesday before we dial the status down to “unconcerned.” This news does seem to leave Kenny Gainwell as a lower-priority waiver claim.

Gainwell was once again inefficient with his limited opportunities. He operated as the team’s lead back, however, when Bucky Irving exited with a lower body injury. If Irving misses any time, Gainwell would profile as a top-24 PPR option, even if he loses touches to Sean Tucker. Tampa could be without Baker Mayfield (thumb) for a while. That would dampen the prospects of everyone in the offense.