The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty to prove after last season went sideways, and one of the clearest reasons for optimism sits in the backfield.
Jason Licht and the Buccaneers made notable upgrades in free agency and the draft, and a healthier roster should help across the board. But the ground game could be one of the biggest reasons Tampa Bay looks different next season, with Bucky Irving set to return after injuries slowed him down last year and Kenny Gainwell arriving to join him as a partner out of the backfield.
On paper, that’s a duo that should draw more attention than it has. Irving rushed for 1,100 yards and scored touchdowns at a high clip in the 2024 NFL season, while also offering value on passing downs. Gainwell, meanwhile, was Aaron Rodgers’ best friend for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a safety valve out of the backfield, and he is all kinds of underrated on the ground.
Still, the Buccaneers backfield keeps getting overlooked.
In his latest ranking of the NFL’s best running back duos, via Sleeper NFL, ESPN analyst Mike Clay left Irving and Gainwell out of the top 15. That came even as the New Orleans Saints washed-up duo of Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara checked in at No. 14, one of several strange choices in the list.
At the center of the snub is a simple issue: plenty of people still aren’t buying Irving as a franchise running back, even after what he showed in 2024, and his 2025 injury issues have only made that skepticism louder. Gainwell hasn’t exactly escaped that same treatment, either, despite Rodgers’ endorsement - and he usually hates everyone.
Baker Mayfield isn’t the only Buccaneers offensive player dealing with this kind of disrespect. The running backs have a point to make, and they know it.
In Other News...
Mike Evans Is Giving Buccaneers Fans A Familiar Worry Again
Mike Evans first training camp with the 49ers has already brought a little too much familiar discomfort, as the veteran wide receiver has been dealing with a string of minor injuries that have interrupted his preparation. The latest issue is a groin injury that has kept him from practicing, adding another layer of concern for a player the team brought in on a three-year contract with guaranteed money and per-game roster bonuses.
For a player whose availability has long mattered as much as his production, even these early camp setbacks are enough to make fans uneasy about what the season might look like. The 49ers are counting on Evans to settle in quickly and be a reliable part of the offense, but the recurring nature of these injuries has left his status and workload worth watching closely as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Pass Rush Plan Just Hit A Worrying Rueben Bain Snag
Rueben Bain Jr.s first summer with the Buccaneers has already hit an unexpected pause. The first-round pick suffered an AC sprain during a joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a setback that briefly disrupted what had been building into an important stretch for Tampa Bays pass rush plans.
The good news for the Buccaneers is that the injury is not considered serious, and Bain is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He sat out the next days practice and is likely to spend the rest of the offseason focused on recovery, but the team appears to have avoided anything that would threaten his early-season availability. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Receiver Battle Just Got More Interesting After Mike Evans Exit
Mike Evans is gone after 13 seasons, and the Buccaneers are suddenly looking at a receiver room that has a very different feel to it. For a team that spent years leaning on one of the leagues most reliable targets, the focus now shifts to the pieces still in place, with Baker Mayfield already signaling confidence in Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and rookie Ted Hurst as Tampa Bay sorts out how to replace Evans production and leadership.
Godwin brings the most proven track record, while Egbuka and McMillan are expected to have bigger roles as the Bucs reshape the passing game around them. Health and experience will matter as camp and the season unfold, and Hurst adds another layer of intrigue as a rookie trying to earn his place in the mix. The challenge is obvious enough, but so is the opportunity, because this could be the group that determines how smoothly Tampa Bay moves into life after Evans. [Read more 🡒]