The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
86 days away from Bucs common season kickoff56 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff40 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the leadup to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams might be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who might be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
As we speak, the sequence continues with working again Kenny Gainwell.
26 For ’26: Kenny Gainwell Bucs Storylines In 2026
What Does Kenny Gainwell’s “RB1A” Function Look Like For The Bucs Offense?
The Bucs made it very clear how vital they felt Kenneth Gainwell might be to the group once they signed him to a two-year, $14 million deal this offseason. That $7 million-per-year wage instantly begged the query about what his function might be in 2026, particularly with starter Bucky Irving coming off an injury-plagued, sophomore-slump kind of 2025 season, in addition to offseason shoulder surgical procedure. Head coach Todd Bowles made it clear early on: Irving is the starter, however Gainwell would be the “1B” to his “1A.”
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles mentioned on the NFL annual assembly that RB Bucky Irving is the starter.
Bucky is 1A and Kenneth Gainwell is 1B.
He thinks it will be a terrific 1-2 punch.
Bowles additionally would not have any drawback utilizing Gainwell on particular groups as a returner. pic.twitter.com/UggFd9DoXF
What is going to that appear like, then? Maybe new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will experience the new hand each time doable. Perhaps it means deploying extra Pony appears to be like with two working backs – each Irving and Gainwell – on the sector on the similar time. What’s clear, although, is that the snap and carry break up between Irving and Gainwell received’t be as lopsided because it was between Irving and Rachaad White in 2024 and 2025.
In 2024, White started the season as Tampa Bay’s beginning working again. Irving, the Bucs’ fourth-round select of Oregon that yr, was the clear No. 2 early on. His first 5 video games noticed him earn 9, seven, 9, 10 and 9 carries, respectively, in comparison with 15, 10, six, 10 and 10 for White. The Bucs form of acquired away from the run between Weeks 7 and 10, however down the stretch, it grew to become the Irving present.
He had video games of 13, 12, 25, 15, 16, 20 and 19 carries down the stretch, whereas White was left with 12, 11, 15, three and 6 in those self same video games. By the top of the yr, Irving had 207 carries to White’s 144. Final yr, regardless of his damage issues that price him seven video games, Irving nonetheless completed with a 173-132 benefit over White. There was some extent in 2024 when it felt like White grew to become the clear No. 2 behind Irving. It doesn’t really feel like that hole will exist fairly as a lot with Gainwell within the combine in 2026.
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Gainwell didn’t signal for $7 million per yr to be a third-down again. He’s very clearly going to determine closely into the Bucs’ plans on offense this yr. So, what’s going to the break up appear like? It’ll be fascinating to trace. As a result of as a lot as it might really feel like one thing of a shock if we see one other 30-40 carry distinction between Tampa Bay’s prime two backs, there’s additionally the truth that Gainwell’s profession excessive for carries is 114, which got here final yr when he ran for 537 yards (4.7 avg.) and 5 touchdowns in his lone yr with the Steelers.
Will he soar previous that profession excessive this yr in a 1-2 punch with Irving? Perhaps. It may probably serve the offense properly by maintaining Irving more energizing and more healthy. Throw Sean Tucker into the combo, too, and also you see a crowded backfield, however one which – if dealt with the correct approach – might be extraordinarily tough for defenses to cease, particularly with all three gamers maintaining one another contemporary and setting themselves as much as put on defenses down late in video games.
How A lot Will The Bucs Use Kenny Gainwell’s Move-Catching Prowess?
It’s no secret that Gainwell is way more than a dashing risk out of the backfield. He’s confirmed over his first 5 years within the league to be a wonderful pass-catcher as properly, which is able to give Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Zac Robinson choices whereas giving quarterback Baker Mayfield one other dependable goal. How a lot, then, will he issue into the Bucs’ passing recreation? If early indicators this summer season inform us something, the reply is “quite a bit.”
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
All through OTAs and into the 2 mini-camp practices, Gainwell was a continuing issue out of the backfield as a receiving risk. Granted, Bucky Irving didn’t take any reps in the course of the full group durations, so it was Gainwell getting the lion’s share of snaps. However when he was in there, he was a frequent outlet for Mayfield in every kind of conditions, together with down within the purple zone. He was impressively sure-handed all through the offseason program, an indication of continued progress for a man who had 5 drops as a rookie in 2021 with the Eagles.
Since that rookie marketing campaign, although, Gainwell has proven nice enchancment and a giant downturn in drops. He had simply two in 2022 and one in 2023 earlier than ending the 2024 season with zero drops as a part of Philadelphia’s Tremendous Bowl-winning group. He had simply two drops final yr on 85 targets, too.
Past the dependability of his arms, Gainwell has additionally been remarkably constant when it comes to his yards per catch common over the course of his profession. He’s additionally coming off the most effective receiving yr of his profession with an elevated quantity of targets in Pittsburgh.
2021 w/ PHI: 50 targets, 33 catches, 66% catch charge, 253 yards, 7.7 avg., 1 TD, 14 first downs2022 w/ PHI: 29 targets, 23 catches, 79.3% catch charge, 169 yards, 7.3 avg., 0 TD, 7 first downs2023 w/ PHI: 37 targets, 30 catches, 81.1% catch charge, 183 yards, 7.1 avg., 0 TD, 11 first downs2024 w/ PHI: 22 targets, 16 catches, 72.7% catch charge, 116 yards, 7.3 avg., 0 TD, 6 first downs2025 w/ PIT: 85 targets, 73 catches, 85.9% catch charge, 486 yards, 6.7 avg., 3 TD, 23 first downs
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In an offense that can certainly be spreading the ball round in hopes of staying balanced and productive within the post-Mike Evans days, the receiving means that the latest Buccaneer working again will solely make him extra precious. He’s a real dual-threat weapon out of the backfield, one which might be a sneaky key to the success of Robinson’s offense this yr.
Can Kenny Gainwell Be A Enhance For Bucs Particular Groups In 2026?
The extra you take a look at the methods during which Gainwell may also help this 2026 Bucs group, the clearer it turns into that the one space he received’t assist in is on the defensive facet of the ball. Not solely can he be an element within the floor recreation because the 1B to Bucky Irving’s 1A. Not solely can he contribute as a pass-catching risk out of the backfield and even lining up within the slot. He can be a assist to the particular groups models.
Nobody is aware of that higher than new Bucs particular groups coordinator Danny Smith. He coached Gainwell in Pittsburgh final yr, and he instructed the media earlier this offseason simply how adamant the 27-year-old working again is about being within the recreation on the kickoff return group.
“Kenny Gainwell will fight me about being on special teams,” Smith mentioned. “I took him off some situations last year and he’s in my office and very specifically said, ‘What I do wrong?’ … He said, ‘Why the hell ain’t I the 2 on that kickoff?’”
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Gainwell was voted because the group MVP for the Steelers final yr regardless of not even being the group’s beginning working again. As a lot as that honor got here from his 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight complete touchdowns, a part of it additionally got here from what he chipped in on particular groups as properly. He returned 26 kicks for Pittsburgh for 633 yards (24.3 avg.), and if it have been as much as him, he would’ve had much more alternatives.
Previous to final yr, Gainwell had extra restricted expertise returning kicks all through his time in Philadelphia. He returned eight kicks for 137 yards (17.1 avg.) in 2021 and had one return for 19 yards in 2023. When the brand new kickoff format was launched for 2024, he returned 18 kicks for 456 yards (25.3 avg.).
Gainwell is a $7 million man for the Bucs, so there’ll certainly be some conversations about whether or not he must be on the sector on kickoffs and what limitations may have to be put in place with that. However with the adjusted NFL kickoff guidelines, groups are utilizing working backs within the return recreation much more due to their shiftiness and subject imaginative and prescient. Tampa Bay has put Sean Tucker in that function earlier than, and head coach Todd Bowles mentioned he wouldn’t be opposed to placing Gainwell on the market this yr, both. His kickoff return common is on par with Tucker’s and Kam Johnson’s, so on the very least, he offers Tampa Bay an alternative choice.
Catch Up On Earlier Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Sequence
Baker MayfieldBucky Irving
