Kenneth Gainwell knows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to step up in Baker Mayfield's absence.
The Buccaneers are 0-3 and will be without their star quarterback for at least three weeks due to a thumb injury. Mayfield suffered the injury towards the end of the Buccaneers' 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.
The veteran running back has played just three games with Mayfield after signing a two-year, $14 million deal with the Buccaneers in the offseason. Gainwell has played with some of the best quarterbacks in recent memory, including Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia and Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Gainwell details what makes Mayfield special: his ability to create plays and his knack for focusing on the details of what he needs to do.
"Baker has been very, very key on his details and what he needs to be doing," said Gainwell in a one-on-one interview. "Giving the guy more time will help more. Just seeing things that when things break down, seeing how strong he is, getting out of the pocket, and trying to create plays. Just having his back when things do break down, letting him know on the sideline that we're here for him. But at the same time, man, it's about the team. It's about what we need to do to win and just trying to win each and every week."
The Buccaneers have been close in all three of their losses this season, losing by one possession each time. However, they have been pedestrian on both offense and defense, ranking 19th in points scored and 23rd in points allowed.
In Mayfield's absence, the Buccaneers will go with undrafted rookie free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels will be making his first start in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. The next two games will see the Buccaneers visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football before returning home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There have been seven NFL teams that have made the playoffs after 0-3 starts and just one after a 0-4 start. Gainwell and the Buccaneers will hope that Daniels can help keep them afloat in Mayfield's absence. The veteran running back said Daniels -- a Kansas Jayhawks product -- plays a lot like Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson and has an arm similar to that of his former quarterback, Hurts.
“I think he plays like a Mike Vick or a new school Lamar Jackson type of guy," said Gainwell. "But I see a lot of skill sets in his arm talent, like a little Jalen Hurts arm talent. He can throw the ball down the field. Everyone know Jalen can throw the ball down the field real good, but he’s very talented in that part.”
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers' Kenneth Gainwell reacts to Baker Mayfield's injury
