Sean Tucker finished with three carries for 10 yards and a touchdown, but the numbers do not fully explain the value of those touches. His biggest run came on fourth and one, when Tampa Bay trusted him to get the tough yard and Tucker powered through the defense for eight. Three plays later, the Bucs went back to him from the two-yard line, and he finished the drive with Tampa Bay’s first touchdown of the afternoon.
That physical element has been missing behind Bucky Irving, particularly with Kenny Gainwell continuing to struggle as a runner. Gainwell managed only five yards on three carries against Green Bay and now has 26 rushing yards on 13 attempts this season, an average of just 2.0 yards per carry. A week earlier against Minnesota, he actually
finished with minus four yards on three attempts. Gainwell made an impact as a receiver on Sunday, catching a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jalon Daniels in the fourth quarter. That is where his role makes considerably more sense. Tampa Bay signed him after a 2025 season in Pittsburgh, where he caught 73 passes for 486 yards, and the Bucs specifically highlighted his ability as a receiver and third-down back upon signing him.
The concern is pass protection, where Gainwell was also expected to be reliable. Tampa Bay specifically praised his ability to identify and pick up blitzers when he signed, but that part of his game has not consistently lived up to the hype either. With a rookie quarterback behind an offensive line already struggling to protect, missed assignments become even more damaging. That is why Tucker deserves a larger role instead of simply sitting behind Gainwell in the rotation. He has already shown he can handle carries, rushing for 320 yards and seven touchdowns last season after averaging 6.2 yards per carry in 2024. Tucker does not need to replace Gainwell completely. Their skill sets can serve different purposes. Gainwell can remain the receiving option while Tucker provides the physical complement to Irving's rushing.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Gainwell continues to struggle as Tucker brings a spark
