Rueben Bain Jr.’s first NFL game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t just fall short of the hype - it handed fresh ammunition to an old skeptic.
For months, Bain had been treated like Tampa Bay’s next defensive centerpiece. The first-round pick drew comparisons to an NFL legend, emerged as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, and even made a Bucs legend rethink retirement. By the time the Buccaneers opened against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the rookie’s debut felt like one of the most anticipated moments of Tampa Bay’s season.
Instead, the box score was nearly empty.
Bain played 41 snaps and finished with just one tackle. He had no pressures, no quarterback hits, and a 40.1 overall grade from PFF. While Tampa Bay did get a historic performance from a rookie, it came from second-round linebacker Josiah Trotter, who became the first player in NFL history to record both a pick-six and a sack in his first game.
That underwhelming outing was enough for former NFL player Fehoko to revive the old “short arms” criticism and argue that Bain will not become the player many expected. Bain had entered the draft conversation as a surefire top-10, maybe even top-5, talent before his arm length at the Combine raised questions for edge rushers. He eventually slid to No. 15, where the Buccaneers grabbed him.
Since then, Bain has done plenty to quiet the doubters. He has been dominant in practice and impressed everyone who has watched him up close. That’s why one rough debut feels like an awfully thin basis for declaring the pick a bust.
If anything, the stronger voices here are the people who work with him every day. Larry Foote, Bain’s position coach, has praised him since the draft and brings two Super Bowl rings as a player and another as a coach to the table.
Todd Bowles has said he is “extremely grateful” to have Bain on his defense. Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, who line up across from him in practice, have also been impressed.
There’s no escaping the fact that Bain’s first game was a disappointment. But one quiet Sunday in Cincinnati doesn’t settle the argument. Not yet.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Have Found The Better Answer At Offensive Coordinator
Mike McDaniel was the name most closely linked to the Buccaneers offensive coordinator opening before he opted to join the Chargers, and that decision now looks a little different after one week of football. Tampa Bays offense under Zac Robinson showed real efficiency both through the air and on the ground, even with turnovers getting in the way, giving the Bucs reason to feel encouraged about the direction of the unit early on.
Meanwhile, the Chargers offense with McDaniel had a rougher opening against the Arizona Cardinals, which only sharpens the contrast between the two situations. It is far too early to draw any hard conclusions from one Sunday, but Tampa Bays first look under Robinson made the case that the better fit may already be in place, even if the offseason chase ended another way. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers' Cade Otton Decision Already Looks Tougher To Defend
Cade Ottons new contract was supposed to settle one of the quieter questions surrounding the Buccaneers offense, but his Week 1 showing made the discussion linger a little longer. After signing a three-year, $30 million extension, Otton finished Tampa Bays loss with three catches for 30 yards and had a notable drop, a start that did little to quiet scrutiny around how the Bucs are valuing him at tight end.
The comparison only gets sharper when Isaiah Likelys debut is in the mix. Likely, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants, opened with eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and Pro Football Focus also gave him a better run-blocking grade than Otton in 2025. For Tampa Bay, the issue is not just whether Otton can bounce back, but whether the extension already looks harder to justify than it did when it was signed. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Sent An Encouraging Message About Bucs Rookie WR
Ted Hursts first NFL game gave the Buccaneers something to look at beyond the final score. The rookie wide receiver was on the field for about 75% of the offensive snaps in the season opener against the Bengals, and he made the most of the opportunity with three catches for 36 yards. Todd Bowles came away pleased with what he saw, pointing to Hursts ability to create separation, work open when targeted and compete for contested throws.
There is still development ahead, as Bowles made clear, but the early usage suggests the Bucs are willing to trust Hurst quickly. For a young receiver trying to carve out a role, the combination of playing time and a solid debut matters, especially on a team that will keep looking for reliable options to complement its passing game. The question now is how much more the rookie can add as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]