Kenneth Gainwell Wants “Someone That Truly Understands My Skill Set”
October 2nd, 2026
While Commanders fans are glossing former Bucs running back Rachaad White, a key figure in their upset win against Seattle on Sunday, Bucs fans are wondering why the guy who replaced White, Kenneth Gainwell, has been a non-factor on offense.
And Gainwell seems to be thinking the same thing.
As part of a marketing partnership with Oral-B and Crest, Gainwell spoke to reporter DJ Siddiqi of RG.org this week.
The Bucs free agent signee in March was asked what they key is to him making a greater impact this season. Gainwell has only 21 yards rushing and one first down receiving on six catches.
“I think the key is understanding my skill set — having someone that truly understands my skill set,” Gainwell said. “And that was the key being in Pittsburgh last year. That was the key being in Philly and having someone that truly understands my skill set. I think that’s just what it is, someone that really knows what I can do in space and go out there and execute at it.”
Ouch!
Gainwell went all through spring and summer training with the Bucs healthy, and he’s healthy now. And he thinks the Bucs don’t have a firm grasp of his skills?
“… I’m just embracing what opportunities I have been given, and just gonna sit here and wait until my number is called and go out there and execute the way I know I can,” Gainwell continued. “Just help this team win, man. I know we’re a winning team. Being in a slump like this, it frustrates everybody, but at the same time, winning as a team will get us over that hump and continue to grow.”
Thought-provoking stuff from Gainwell.
October 2nd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Trade block. Promote Tucker
October 2nd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Players have to be very delicate and concise with their words about stuff like this, he did a good job there
October 2nd, 2026 at 4:57 pm
We should be lining him up in the slot more often, but we don’t operate in a manner to take advantage of what he can do around the hashes. Even if we did, he’s got to be put in position, the ball has got to be out on time and on the money which hasn’t been a functional strength of this team through 3 games under Robinson. Who, I personally don’t blame, because at the end of the day who a playcall/concept the primary read isn’t always the guy who gets the ball which is on the QB.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:10 pm
This team stinks
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:11 pm
The Bucs were doing this last season with Tucker and White
It seems like they don’t wanna win football games
Tucker had 106vyards rushing against the Bills last season
And then he disappeared for the remainder of the season
All l can say to Kenny G
Enjoy your vacation in sunny Florida
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Scheming in relation to the skill set of your best players is smart coaching.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Shots fired baby!!
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
I guess we will find out next season with our new coaches.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:21 pm
Zac Robinson is terrible.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:35 pm
BEST COACHES IN THE NFL HANDS DOWN!!! 🤣😂🤣😭
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Fire everyone now! Top to bottom they all suck.
If not we’ll be here next season talking about the same thing.
Stuck in a loop of ineptitude and propaganda.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:45 pm
He should have realized bowles was an idiot before signing a contract with this sinking ship
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Why on earth would Zac Robinson take advantage of a players skillset, that makes too much sense. The farther we go the more it looks like not only is Bowles unable to properly coach this team but he hired an OC who doesn’t know how to get the best out of his players. We shall see Sunday how things turn out.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:47 pm
It’s a Bucs life again…
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Former captain in Pittsburgh letting the world know what we here in Tampa already know. Plus TB and Zac were just saying how they have to Tucker out there more. They won’t.
October 2nd, 2026 at 5:57 pm
Coen>Canales>Grizzard>ZRob=Leftwich
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Add this guy to the list of those who seem to question how or why they’re not being used appropriately: Bain (seems very unenthusiastic about learning how to be a “complete” player), Winfield, Walker, Tucker, Gainwell, Godwin (says they’re winning routes but the ball doesn’t come their way), Baker and Vita barking about $ and wanting out or calling out ownership)
Bowles deer in headlights press conferences, stunningly obtuse comments regarding AWJ and Walker, referring to Parrish who didn’t play, now saying Bucky isn’t on the injury report when it’s there in black & white
This team has a cloud of bad juju and the curtain being put up and the TV channels being changed is further evidence of denial and heads in the sand
Who is ultimately responsible for the ruin of this franchise?
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:03 pm
as soon as they finish unlocking AWJ’s skillset you’ll get your turn kenny.
be patient, as ronde would say.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:03 pm
Who is ultimately responsible for the ruin of this franchise- Rondé will have us believe it’s the fans lack of support
Gaslighting upon gaslighting
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:04 pm
To be honest when he’s gotten the ball he hasn’t done much or looked impressive. I didn’t see him making guys miss like white did and Bucky does.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:05 pm
Now we only need to have Otten get busted for studying only fans in a parking lot and the transformation will be complete.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:05 pm
This coaching staff is completely lost.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:08 pm
The worst staff in NFL….
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:09 pm
“I think the key is understanding my skill set — having someone that truly understands my skill set,” Gainwell said.
———
WOW, sounds like he’s talking about Baker to me. Now we know why White left.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:10 pm
As soon as Gainwell finishes learning how to drop in coverage, he’ll get more reps.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:13 pm
The fact that we’ve had 5 different OCs in 5 years is stunning. I’m thinking Todd wished he retired instead fighting Coen to remain the HC. DEI at it’s worst
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Gainwell looks like a less athletic/agile version of Bucky Irving.
And Bucky barely has any success, so Gainwell is NOT the answer.
Tucker prob is.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:18 pm
The week 3 snap count for Gainwell was 32 snaps, or 46% of snaps. Bucky was only at 36 snaps, or 52%.
Watching the ALL22, he was in the role of White, mostly attempting to pass block, and just doing a very very bad job at it. He did have 3 carries, and 2 receptions, and got a total of 10 yards out of it.
I do like Gainwell as an overall back, he’s very quick, a good runner, and he’s very good at receiving — but he’s not as good at receiving as White (who is the best of all-time when it comes to catch competition percentage, so it’s hard to top that) and is not in the same category as White when it comes to blocking.
The running game, even after a down week vs the Vikings, is still 13th in the NFL and 12th in yards per attempt. But it’s been the complete lack of a usable passing game that has tanked the team, and obviously Daniels is a complete wildcard so who knows what we get – although history tells us it won’t be good.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:22 pm
They let robinson leave the building but then called him at the airport . they should have went with their original instinct
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:22 pm
i think that was his second visit also?
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:30 pm
First shot fired across the bow! Ship already taking on water. What is Capt Chips Ahoy going to do? The crew is talking mutiny!
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:32 pm
“Thought-provoking stuff from Gainwell.”
Really? The only thought I had after reading that was “man, that was a whole lot of words that said absolutely nothing”.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:32 pm
Here’s the perfect scenario. If Jalon balls out the next few weeks, fire Robinson, make Baker the OC. He’s been around a ton of Offensive coordinators, he’ll earn his big bucks and all’s right in the world. Wow, that was some dream.🤣
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:34 pm
While I have zero faith in this coaching staff, Kenny has looked unimpressive in his few touches.
Who else was willing to pay him $7M a season? And then there’s our 3rd string RB who hasn’t touched the ball yet making almost $3M.
Bucs have 2nd most expensive offense in the league. Licht’s management of this team’s salary cap is a travesty.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:38 pm
Keep in mind that the Steelers had nothing for receivers last year other than Metcalf (and still barely do). Of course he was used more by them than the Bucs are using him. He was the best receiver the Steelers had!
He was signed as a Bucky insurance policy. I’m sure they would have rather signed White for a much lower price than Gainwell got, but there were no bridges left for White to cross back into Tampa after he burned them all down.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Kenny Gainwell spent 4 yrs in Philly as their teritary back, gaining a total of almost 1200 rushing yds in 280 carries. That’s only 70 carries a year, gaining roughly 300 yds a year. He gains a consistent 4 yds or so, but his longest run in those 4 yrs was only 32 yds. IOW he’s not explosive like Bucky & Tucker both are, but he’s fairly consistent (much like Rachaad was).
He did considerably better when he was in Pittsburgh last year, getting about 50% more carries than he’d averaged in Philly. Kenny gained 537 yds rushing in 114 carries … 4.7 YPC … and got 5 rushing TDs. He also caught 73-of-85 targets for 486 yds receiving & 3 more TDs, giving him over 1000 combined yards and 8 TDs total. And that’s as their secondary RB (Jaylen Warren got almost 1000 yds rushing).
Gainwell has a good skillset, but our OLine hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire with its’ run-blocking. Improve that, and Kenny will be an acceptable complement to Bucky in the backfield.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:47 pm
“Bucs have 2nd most expensive offense in the league.”
Keep in mind that 25% of that goes away after this season. Evans’ $13 million in dead cap and Godwin’s overpaid salary cap hit (no way he’s back next year).
The only notable free agents currently on the offensive roster after this season are Mauch and Bredeson, neither of which are locks to get a new contract (or shouldn’t be).
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:50 pm
Oh, and actually, the Bucs are the third most expensive offense. The Rams and Eagles offenses are far more expensive with the Bucs just edging out Dallas, Cincinnati and Minnesota for third.
October 2nd, 2026 at 6:50 pm
If we don’t turn this season around
Trade the top 5 pick for a Kings Ransom
Draft Jadan Baugh from the Florida Gators
And everything else will fall in place
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:14 pm
We need to get bigger on offense in the future
Bigger running backs
Bigger quarterbacks
Bigger wide receivers
Bigger and meaner offensive lineman
Bigger tight Ends
Maybe the next administration will do it
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 pm
That’s because Rachaad White touched the ball twice as much Gainwell. And somehow Grizzard’s offense has looked better than ZRob’s. Why pay him 7M per year if you’re not gonna use him?
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:18 pm
Don’t we all