Kenneth Gainwell On Bucky Irving
June 12th, 2026
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell.
So yesterday, Bucs running back Bucky Irving made his first appearance on a Bucs practice field since he had shoulder surgery.
Joe didn’t actually see Bucky involved in seven-on-seven or 11-on-11 practice (doesn’t mean Bucky didn’t participate, Joe just didn’t see him) but Joe did see Bucky going through individual position workouts.
You know, baby steps.
So for the first time since signing with the Bucs, new Bucs running back Kenneth Gainwell actually saw Bucky on a Bucs practice field. What was Gainwell’s reaction? He spoke about Bucky yesterday to the local pen and mic club.
“Actually, I’m excited to see him back out there on the field, running around, doing what he does,” Gainwell said. “I mean, chemistry is what we’re trying to build together, and you know, us two being on the field at the same time is something that I’m wishing that can happen.
“I’m just happy to see him back on the field. You know, he’s looking good. So I’m just excited about that.”
As Joe has typed several times, the Bucs aren’t paying Gainwell $7 million a year just for s(p)its and giggles. He’s currently the 21st-highest paid running back in the league for 2026. You don’t pay a man that kind of Team Glazer loot to suck water on the sidelines and just play special teams.
If Bucky had can get healthy and return to his rookie form, Joe thinks the Bucs run game could be special now having an offensive coordinator who knows how to develop a run game and having a healthy offensive line.
June 12th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I’m glad we got Gainwell so we don’t have to see a 2nd straight year of force feeding Bucky.
It was so hard watching him in that Eagles game, where Grizz ran him on a stretch run to the outside and Bucky was running his hardest to get around the corner just to see Dejean(who’s much faster) standing there waiting to stop the play.
That’s one of the first few times I saw how Grizz was using Bucky and felt “this isn’t going to work out well” and it didn’t.
Weird thing is, even with the health of the OL being in flux, we still got some solid rushing performances from our other two RBs in Irvings absence. Bucky getting the lions share of carries, but finishing with the worst success rate on runs was terrible.
June 12th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Both those backs on the field together should be dynamic and a nightmare for defenses.
June 12th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Starting to see why he was so well like by the Steelers, perhaps he can be a good mentor for Bucky.
June 12th, 2026 at 11:48 am
Could be a scary duo
June 12th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
should be fun to watch
GO BUCS!!!
June 12th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
He can Gain (yards) Well and is swell as well. What’s not to like about the guy!
I knew the day we signed him in FA for the money, being more than a 1 year deal and also being way more like Bucky than not, he was Bucky insurance as well as a contributor
We all want and hope for Bucky to bounce back (hopefully he’s back by winter, spring, “summer or fall”), but a season in which he struggled both mentally AND physically and a need for a revived Bucs ground game overall, this was a wise FO move to sign this dude.
June 12th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Like to see Sean Tucker get increased carries. Still believe Sean tucker is a starting RB in NFL. He does better when he gets 10 -15 touches a game. He gets better later in games.
June 12th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
Gainwell is going to make a bunch of big plays for the Buccaneers this year.
Bucky will too assuming he stays relatively healthy.
That’s a hell of a one, two punch at RB – and with Sean Tucker as your 3rd option and designated short yardage back – I’d say thats one of the more talented RB rooms in the league top to bottom…..
It all starts up front though – and the Bucs just happen to also have a top 5 offensive line….. So I expect a lot of yards from our RBs this year – both rushing and receiving.
June 12th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
Eveything I’m seeing and hearing about Gainwell is positive.
Looks like we’ll still have a three-headed monster in our RB room.
I’d love to see some plays schemed up that have two of the three of them on the field at the same time.
Hopefully, they won’t try to use Bucky as a bellcow again this year and all three of our RBs get some serious snaps.
June 12th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
The run game should be good this season baring any major injuries. Should be fun to watch!
June 12th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
I like Sean Tucker too Bob, but he was born too late. He’s a 1980s RB. Emmitt doesn’t work in the NFL anymore – you can’t just wear down a D with 30 carries. Well, you can, but no one does. Maybe Baltimore.
June 12th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
These two could be really good
June 12th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
They could make a great team along with Tucker. RB don’t appear to be a problem
June 12th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Scary to think that we may never see the same Bucky we saw in his rookie year. We see it all too often in this league as the shelf life for RBs are the shortest of any position with a average of around 4 seasons. I still think he will bounce back for us tho, he’s still very young and this actually was his {very first injury of his entire career} so he should be good.
June 12th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Im happy Bucky is back and working out. From what little video there was he looked really small.
June 12th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
You don’t pay a man that kind of Team Glazer loot to suck water on the sidelines and just play special teams.
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Yeah, the Family only overpays for old broke down OLB/Edge rushers.