When the Buccaneers signed Kenny Gainwell this offseason, the expectation was that Gainwell was supposed to give the offense something different, particularly as a receiver and third-down option. Through three games, that player has yet to show up. Gainwell has 10 carries for just 21 yards, averaging 2.1 yards per attempt. He has added six receptions for 22 yards, giving him only 43 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches. He has yet to score a touchdown or produce a play longer than 13 yards. Against Minnesota, Gainwell actually finished with negative rushing yardage, carrying three times for minus four yards.
Gainwell was coming off easily the best season of his career in Pittsburgh. He finished 2025 with 537 rushing yards, 486 receiving yards and
eight total touchdowns. His 73 receptions led the Steelers, and he became one of only five running backs that season to record at least 500 rushing yards and 450 receiving yards. Pittsburgh teammates even voted him the team’s MVP. The Bucs specifically talked about Gainwell’s ability to create after the catch, run routes from different alignments, and contribute in pass protection. Baker Mayfield praised his route running during training camp, and there was reason to believe Tampa Bay had added another legitimate weapon rather than simply a backup running back.
Instead, his receiving production has been almost nonexistent. Gainwell has averaged just 3.7 yards per reception, and only one of his six catches has produced a first down. That is a major difference from the player who averaged 45.4 receiving yards per game over the final eight weeks of last season. Some of this falls on Zac Robinson. Gainwell cannot create mismatches if the offense is not consistently putting him in situations where his receiving ability matters. His limited touches have also made it difficult for him to establish any rhythm. Still, when Tampa Bay gives him opportunities, more has to come from them. The Bucs paid Gainwell to complement Irving and give defenses another problem to account for. Three games into the season, he has been neither.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs’ Kenny Gainwell experiment is off to a rough start
