Kenneth Gainwell is accustomed to playing for playoff contenders.
The veteran running back joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with that goal in mind, looking to help get them back into the playoffs after missing it for the first time since 2019 last season. The Buccaneers are currently 0-3 and looking to get their first win on the board when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
Gainwell said head coach Todd Bowles' message was simple -- continue to do the "small things."
"The message definitely has been: we have to continue to do the small things," said Gainwell in a one-on-one interview. "We got to continue to be a group that that wants to go out there and win. Not guys that just are being happy to play football on Sunday. But a group of people
that want to come out here and win and like being together, man."
The Buccaneers haven't been dreadful, but they haven't been great either. They've lost all three of their games by one possession, but it's clear both the offense and the defense are not running on all cylinders. The offensive unit ranks 19th while the defense ranks 23rd.
It doesn't help matters that star quarterback Baker Mayfield is sidelined for at least three games due to a thumb injury. That means backup quarterback and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will step into the role for the next several weeks as the Buccaneers look to get back on the right track.
Only seven teams in NFL history have made it to the playoffs after a 0-3 start, with the 2025 Houston Texans recently accomplishing the feat. Only one NFL team -- the 1992 San Diego Chargers -- has gone to the playoffs after a 0-4 start.
Gainwell serves as the backup running back to Bucky Irving and has made the playoffs every season of his career, with his first four years with the Philadelphia Eagles and his last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gainwell won a Super Bowl with the Eagles during the 2024 season.
The veteran running back said he likes to lead by "example" rather than vocally in the locker room.
"I'm not a very vocal guy, but I'm a guy that leads by example, leads by how I do things each and every day," said Gainwell. "But no, those guys are very vocal (the veterans such as Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin) on what needs to happen and what needs to go on. I'm just listening, man, holding in on what I need to be doing. I'm very new here, so just listening in and helping out wherever I can is what's key."
During the 2026 season, Gainwell is teaming up with Oral-B and Crest. The well-known brand is the Official Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss, and Mouthwash of the NFL and is releasing special-edition products for seven teams, including the Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s truly a good partnership,” said Gainwell. “I love my smile. I use it on game days. I use it every day. It’s a great partnership to have with them. The things that they are doing like partnering with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The cool things that they can do, like with toothbrushes and the mouthwash that we can use that can really help take care of our oral. And our oral can really affect other parts of our body. So just taking care of that part of it is something that that we’re doing.”
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Kenneth Gainwell on Todd Bowles' message amid Buccaneers' 0-3 start
