- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,716
- Reaction score
- 59
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are an offensive unit often considered among the best in the NFL. In 2025, injuries hampered them a bit, and they missed out on winnable games down the stretch and the playoffs. Heading into 2026, most of the offense returns, with some additions and subtractions, and now they are being reviewed by ESPN.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell ranked all the offensive skill player groups in the NFL. For the Bucs, they dipped a bit in the rankings from 7th to 22nd in 2026, and he broke it down by position group in his reasoning. For the running backs, it all centered around the situation regarding Bucky Irving.
Barnwell writes, "Bucky Irving was also sidelined for two months by foot and shoulder injuries, and across his two stretches of active play, he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. Irving turned only 6.4% of his designed rush attempts into 10-plus yard gains, down from 13% as a rookie. The Bucs swapped out Rachaad White for Kenny Gainwell, who was wildly productive for the Steelers in a situational role, and there's a chance that he is Tampa's best back."
This is not the first, or likely last, time we will see someone believing that Kenneth Gainwell could take over the backfield. With new playcaller Zac Robinson looking to make the position more dynamic, he fits more of what they are looking to achieve. However, a healthy Irving could be one of the better running backs in the league.
Something has to give, but either way, the Bucs need better play out of the position group.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What did ESPN think of the Bucs' running backs heading into 2026?
Continue reading...
ESPN's Bill Barnwell ranked all the offensive skill player groups in the NFL. For the Bucs, they dipped a bit in the rankings from 7th to 22nd in 2026, and he broke it down by position group in his reasoning. For the running backs, it all centered around the situation regarding Bucky Irving.
Barnwell writes, "Bucky Irving was also sidelined for two months by foot and shoulder injuries, and across his two stretches of active play, he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. Irving turned only 6.4% of his designed rush attempts into 10-plus yard gains, down from 13% as a rookie. The Bucs swapped out Rachaad White for Kenny Gainwell, who was wildly productive for the Steelers in a situational role, and there's a chance that he is Tampa's best back."
This is not the first, or likely last, time we will see someone believing that Kenneth Gainwell could take over the backfield. With new playcaller Zac Robinson looking to make the position more dynamic, he fits more of what they are looking to achieve. However, a healthy Irving could be one of the better running backs in the league.
Something has to give, but either way, the Bucs need better play out of the position group.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What did ESPN think of the Bucs' running backs heading into 2026?
Continue reading...
