Idle for Friday's exhibition contest
Gainwell did not play in the Buccaneers' 24-16 preseason win over the Jets on Friday.
Both Gainwell and Bucky Irving, the Bucs' top running backs on the depth chart, observed Friday's game in street clothes while Josh Williams, Sean Tucker and Kadarius Calloway all saw action. Gainwell is coming off a breakout 2025 season with the Steelers, when he accumulated 1,023 yards from scrimmage on 187 touches across 17 regular-season games. He caught 73 passes (on 85 targets) last year with Pittsburgh, and he figures to see a sizable role in Tampa Bay's passing game for the upcoming season.
More Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Football News
Ted Hurst III
Catches three passes in Week 1
Hurst caught all three of his targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 33-27 loss to the Bengals.
Cade Otton
Posts 26 yards in Week 1 loss
Otton caught three of five targets for 26 yards in Tampa Bay's loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Chase McLaughlin
Makes all five kicks Sunday
McLaughlin went 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts and made all three extra-point tries in Sunday's 33-27 loss to the Bengals.
Chris Godwin Jr.
Catches four passes in Week 1 loss
Godwin caught all four of his targets for 40 yards in the Bucs' 33-27 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He added three rushing yards on one carry.
Kenny Gainwell
Six touches on offense in loss
Gainwell rushed five times for 15 yards and brought in his lone target for three yards in the Buccaneers' 33-27 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He also returned one kickoff for 22 yards.
Baker Mayfield
Turnover-filled season-opening loss
Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions while adding five rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 33-27 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He also lost three fumbles.
Emeka Egbuka
Team-high yardage in loss
Egbuka brought in five of six targets for 63 yards in the Buccaneers' 33-27 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Bucky Irving
Offsets fumble with TD
Irving rushed eight times for 45 yards and a touchdown and brought in all seven targets for 48 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-23 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Sean Tucker
Inactive Sunday
Tucker (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Jalen McMillan
Inactive in Week 1
McMillan (knee) is listed as inactive Sunday at Cincinnati, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.