Arm Questions Remain For Rueben Bain
November 11th, 2026
Joe has loved seeing the improved play from rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain.
Early this season, he literally looked nothing like the player Tampa Bay drafted in Round 1.
In late August, Bain sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder and missed the close of training camp and the final preseason game. He was on the field for Week 1 but clearly was not himself. Frankly, he was awful in the first two games.
After a groin pull in Week 2, the Bucs shelved Bain for two weeks and his game has been improving steadily since returning against the Cowboys.
Against the Bears on Sunday, Bain had a key fourth-quarter forced fumble that led to the Bucs tying the game at 24.
But is Bain’s shoulder healthy? Todd Bowles said something on his official team radio show yesterday that leads Joe to believe Bain has a ways to go.
“He was an impact,” Bowles said. “You can see he is healthy, he’s playing a lot faster, he is playing a lot tougher. He is using that arm more and he was just hustling to the ball on the fumble.”
Hmmmm, Bowles saying Bain is “using that arm more” really caught Joe’s attention. That line evokes all kinds of questions. Joe assumes Bowles was referencing the arm attached to the sprained AC joint.
“Bain got a heck of a hit, you know, if you look at it real time, it looks like helmet to helmet, but it wasn’t,” Bowles continued. “He actually got him with his shoulder and got the ball out, knocked the ball out.”
(Joe caught the archived show on SiriusXM Radio.)
It smells like Bain will benefit from this bye week more than most Bucs. Perhaps his true game will emerge at Detroit in 11 short days.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
This will help Bowles focus on the other things which is important as the offense continues to improve and the passing game is already one of the best.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
At least we can all agree he’s improving!
November 11th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Not worried at the least for the big picture and his career.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Loved seeing the video you posted during training camp of Bain getting in extra reps with a sled long after everyone had left. Hated seeing him wrench & drag the sled one armed across the field by himself. Not smart. He was peaking at that time in camp, but that’s a fast way to jack up your rotator cuff. Not long after he sprains it in a joint practice. I hope he learned his lesson about how taking care of his body takes precedence over everything else. Keep that humble, workman like mentality, but be smart at the same time. We’ve yet to see the real Rueben, the sky’s the limit once he regains & maintains full health.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
In 7 games he has one sack and two QB hits. No wonder we were so lucky to draft him. That’s ROTY type production.
He has vastly surpassed all expectations and is better than any DE in history.
Todd Bowles has added another gem to his stellar record of developing defensive ends into pro bowl material.
The guy is simply impossible to stop and even better in pass coverage!
November 11th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Atp, I’m good as long as Bain stays healthy. He’s been flashing these last few weeks and even in that ATL game(irc) there was a hold on him in the endzone that should’ve gotten us 2 points and the ball back, but the zebras didn’t call it.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
who?
November 11th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Proff all the DEs have done well in coverage this season. Defense is feasting as one of the best but haters won’t see that. Thank you for being Bowles biggest fan. Most smart fans with common sense know that outside of the bosa’s and watts most rook DEs don’t make a huge impact their 1st season.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Remember, Warren Sapp wasn’t all that his first year. Give the man some time to fully recover.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Yeah, and before somebody says something smart, I know Sapp was a defensive tackle.
November 11th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
“Professor” – I find your comments neither funny nor insightful. I’m confident you can do better. Sarcasm is great when used appropriately. Constant sarcasm becomes boring.
With that, I’m sure we’ll see better comments moving forward.
November 11th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Knocked the WR out, then he dropped the ball. Cmon coach watch it better
November 11th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Bain will shine next season under a new coach.
November 11th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Bain is going to be a good one. Takes time for many 1st and 2nd year players.
I don’t think he’s been at full strength once this year. But he’s getting better and hopefully healthier and after the bye week we will start seeing more impactful plays.
November 11th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Bain will be fine…. He’s been fine. He’s fine now.
He may not have sack numbers to please the joes but he’s applying pressure and pressures lead to pics and he’s playing the run well.
November 11th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
#51 is the number I’m always seeing applying pressure
November 11th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
There was no where to go but up. Congrats.
November 11th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Nutty professor, sarcasm is not your bag. Stick to straight trolling. But you and McBay? Bedfellows for sure.
November 11th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
You’re distracted by the shiny bauble of the forced fumble.. That was from being lucky enough to collide with the ballcarrier helmet to helmet and knocking him out.
But let’s get real… the last 3 games he’s had:
0 solo tackles
3 assisted tackles
0 tackles for loss
0 sacks
2 QB hits for whatever that is worth, but it’s still less than one per game.
Warren Sapp had a slow rookie season, but he still surpassed those numbers just in his first game.
November 11th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Not worried about Bain at all. He will get healthy and figure it out. He appears to be coming along with better speed and power. The stats will follow.
November 11th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
I’m good with Bane. Zero questions about him. Any questions about Robinson???
November 11th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Not focusing on sacks has certainly helped Todd implement his winning brand of football.
There’s really no need to hit the QB when you could just stand there and watch him hit a wide open TE to close the game out on national TV.
It really was a brilliant move and harkens back to the tremendous decision to leave Kupp wide open in the divisional round.
We won that day despite the scoreboard. That’s why the Glazers decided to go with Todd. They wanted more of the same and he delivers every time.
November 11th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
If and it has been an issue I’m not sure completely tearing it up should be the answer..it’s been a long time. Save him soon to get it fixed and ready for camp next season. We’re standing on a twig and Grizz might not have been the real problem. I’m thinking that problem may have cost us Coen and Mike I might have cut’em off to keep Coen as the coach.
November 11th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
ProfesserVonDoofus has incorporated a 7th graders sarcasm into his comments. Not funny or ever entertaining. Pathetic really characterises VonDoofus. Best thing that can happen now is VonDoofus assumes a new screen identity.
November 11th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
It’s a darn good defense with young growing players. Feels like OC’s have it out schemed though on opening drives and two minute drills…
November 11th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
At 3-6 the Bucs are still favored to win the nfc south. You really cannot make this up, and i didn’t.
November 11th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
@Giptard
I’m living rent-free in that hollow melon. What’s that smell? Oh it’s sh!t for brains.
3-6 really is something to defend with every fiber of your being.
5-13 in the last 18 is even more a reason to go after those who don’t enjoy the path to nowhere.
How many openings does your Todd Bowles doll have for you to enjoy?
November 11th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
Yeah 5 and 13 the last 18 games is diabolical playing in this dumpster diving division.
Aside from Trotter and Irving how many other 1st 2nd or 3rd year guys have
Done anything? Parrish is a decent corner but gets burned often. The rest of
Those early to mid round picks the last few drafts are regressing on top of that
You got Winfield godwin and mayfield laughing all the way to the bank to put up
Pedestrian stats.
The good news – 7 wins probably gets a home playoff game!
November 11th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
With or without a healthy Bain, our defense hadn’t been an embarrassment, and the running game has been great. The biggest thing we’ve learned so far this season is how much Mike Evans meant to our passing game. At Texas A&M he made Johnny Manziel look like a good passer. He did the same with Mayfield. If we had rolled the dice and let Mayfield play on his last contract year, and re-signed Evans with some of the money, we’d have maybe three losses and be considered a bona fide Super Bowl contender.
November 11th, 2026 at 10:42 pm
How about let’s let him play his best position with his hand in the dirt !! Wouldn’t that be a novelistic IDEA 🤬
It is mind blowing how down right stupid Bowles and Licht can be !!
Yes just dumb ass stupid jocks !!