The Tampa Bay Buccaneers joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t go well for the Pewter Pirates.
Several players openly expressed their frustration with the team’s performance. However, that wasn’t the only development from the final Tuesday of August that caught Buccaneers fans’ attention.
Rueben Bain Jr. Injury Update Brings Good News
Buccaneers fans received an important injury update involving rookie pass-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. on Wednesday. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Bain is dealing with an AC sprain in his shoulder.
The good news is that the injury is considered “nothing serious.” Bain is also expected to be available for Tampa Bay’s regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13.
Schefter noted that Bain participated in Tuesday’s joint practice before watching Wednesday’s session from the sidelines. That development would seemingly make it unlikely that Bain plays in Friday’s preseason finale against Jacksonville.
Buccaneers Expect Big Things From Bain
Tampa Bay landed Bain with the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He slipped to that spot after concerns about his arm length followed him throughout the pre-draft process.
Bain reportedly remained “hungry” and “mad” after watching his draft stock fall. Now, the rookie is expected to have an important role in Tampa Bay’s defensive plans.
Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper pointed out Wednesday that Bain “is expected to play a key role off the edge” for the Buccaneers this fall.
That responsibility comes as Tampa Bay looks to improve a pass rush that struggled to consistently finish plays last season. According to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com, the team’s 37 sacks were “the team’s lowest full-season total since 2018.”
“The Buccaneers also blitzed on 35.0% of their pass rush snaps, the third-highest blitz rate in the NFL,” Smith added. “In addition, their percentage of pressures that resulted in sacks was only 14.7%, the third-lowest mark in the league.”
Bain’s presence could be important for a Buccaneers defense looking for more production off the edge. For now, Tampa Bay can focus on getting its first-round pick healthy for the games that matter.
If Bain continues progressing as expected, Tampa Bay should have him available when the regular season begins in Cincinnati.
For more from JR click here!
Follow, Like and Subscribe to Bucs Report
BucsReport.com
For more on this and everything Buccaneers check back here hourly at BucsReport.com.
