Game flow, productivity limiting Gainwell’s usage

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.

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.

Irving was on the sideline for much of the fourth quarter with a potential injury, though it was unclear when or how to picked up the ailment. He accounted for 15 of 18 Bucs running back carries on the day, maintaining his role as the clear No. 1 back in the Tampa backfield. He saw four targets while Kenny Gainwell caught two of his five targets. Much of Gainwell’s involvement came after the Bucs fell behind the Vikings. Irving would have a sweet matchup in Week 4 against a vulnerable Green Bay defensive line if he can suit up.

Gainwell saw some pass-catching involvement once the Bucs fell behind Cleveland, but it was once again Bucky Irving who worked as Tampa’s clear No. 1 back, seeing 19 touches, including most of the early-down opportunities. Irving’s domination of the Bucs backfield through two weeks means Gainwell is nothing more than a bench stash in 12-team formats for now.

Irving for a second straight week functioned as the unquestioned No. 1 backfield option ahead of Kenneth Gainwell, who had two rushes and three receptions on the day. Irving had a few solid runs in the first half before the Browns put the clamps on the Tampa rushing attack and forced Baker Mayfield to beat them. (He did not.) While somewhat surprising, Irving’s early domination of the Bucs backfield means he’ll be a high-floor weekly running back option until proven otherwise. He gets a tough matchup in Week 2 against the Vikings.

Tucker was out last week with the hamstring issue. His return to the Tampa lineup could take a few touches away from Bucky Irving and/or Kenneth Gainwell. Last week against the Bengals, Irving out-carried Gainwell 8-5 and led the backfield with a 59 percent route share. Bucs declared CB Jacob Parrish, CB Ayden Garnes, DL Elijah Simmons, DL DeMonta Capehart, OL Billy Schrauth, and OL Luke Haggard inactive for Week 2.