The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will see two intriguing rookies enter important roles when they open the season Sunday.
First-round pick Rueben Bain will make his highly anticipated NFL debut against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. The rookie pass rusher has generated significant attention throughout Tampa Bay’s offseason program.
Rueben Bain Finally Makes His NFL Debut
Bain consistently created problems during offseason practices with quick wins during one-on-one pass-rushing drills. He also showed his disruptive ability along the line of scrimmage during Tampa Bay’s second preseason matchup against the Chiefs.
The former Hurricane led the nation with 83 pressures in 2025. His ability to combine speed and power makes him particularly difficult for offensive tackles.
Bain enters the NFL with an advanced pass-rushing repertoire and a clear plan for attacking blockers. His leverage helps bait tackles before he uses his elite bend and ankle flexibility to turn the corner.
The rookie can collapse the pocket with power while utilizing several different pass-rush moves. His lower-body strength also allows him to dip his shoulder and maintain his rush around the edge.
Tristan Wirfs has already seen enough to develop significant excitement about what Bain could become.
“He is a freak,” said Wirfs via Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. “His bend, his motor, his determination and everything. I do not know if I want to put expectations [on him]. I think being a first-round pick, you already have such high expectations for yourself and coaches have high expectations for you, but I think what you put on yourself is second to none and I think he is going to go out there and give it his all…Going to be a tough day if you are blocking “3.” I am really excited for him and excited to watch him in action.”
Tampa Bay Must Account for Dexter Lawrence
Bain will not be the only player receiving plenty of attention Sunday.
Cincinnati revamped its defensive line during the offseason by adding Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen. Lawrence has recorded 103 pressures since 2022, the most among defensive tackles during that span.
His production is especially impressive considering his position. Lawrence can overwhelm blockers at the point of attack while quickly disengaging from single blocks.
He also has the strength to defeat double teams and still find his way into the backfield. That combination creates an immediate problem for Tampa Bay’s interior offensive line.
Zac Robinson knows the Buccaneers cannot afford to lose track of Lawrence.
“Yeah, you’ve got to account for him at all times,” stated Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson via the team’s website. “He’s very disruptive for how big he is – the athleticism and the pop that he has – snap in and snap out from a pass-rush standpoint, from a run-game standpoint. He’s got everything. He’s got every tool. So, you know, it’s a great challenge for our guys. Obviously, you know, it’s up to us to keep mixing up different looks and whatnot. But yeah, he’s a handful up front. I know our guys are excited for the challenge.”
Ted Hurst Could Provide Another Rookie Spark
Tampa Bay could also lean on another rookie as the season begins.
Ted Hurst received additional opportunities during the offseason while Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka dealt with injuries. Those reps helped Hurst accelerate his development and build chemistry with Baker Mayfield.
Hurst showed his ability to attack defenders vertically during joint practices. His 71 catches for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns at Georgia State in 2025 showcased that potential.
The rookie can create vertical separation with his long strides and uses effective footwork at the top of his routes. He also tracks the football well and owns the size needed to make difficult catches above defenders.
During his college career, 70.9 percent of Hurst’s receptions resulted in either a first down or touchdown. Those numbers highlight his potential value when Tampa Bay needs a play.
Robinson Sees Hurst Continuing to Develop
Hurst’s rapid progress has also impressed Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator.
“He’s shown that, from his college days to now, I mean, he just goes out and plays, and nothing is too big no matter who he’s matched up with, whether it’s against our defense or some of the guys in the Jets game [when] he was playing against some of their starters and Brandon Stephens,” said Robinson via Brianna Dix. “Some of those guys have been good corners for a long time. So, you know, it’ll be interesting to see just how everything plays out with him. He’s done an outstanding job from a mental standpoint. That’s always the unknown is just, all right, how much can these guys absorb in a short amount of time? It’s a lot of verbiage. It’s a lot of new stuff. He’s done a great job really from that rookie minicamp. We were impressed with just how much he was able to pick up in a short amount of time. Then you look at where he started from training camp…Sometimes guys can lose sight of some things when they have that summer break. It took a little bit to get going once we got back from training camp. Then, really from Week 2 and on, he’s just continued to ascend. He’s doing a great job. It’s great that Baker [Mayfield] got a bunch of reps with him to feel the movement and the different type of throws that you can activate with him out there. I’m excited for Ted, excited for all those guys, but he’s done an outstanding job all training camp up to now.”
Buccaneers Rookies Face Immediate Opportunities
Sunday will give Tampa Bay an early look at two rookies who generated plenty of excitement during the offseason.
Bain gets his first opportunity to translate his pass-rushing dominance to the NFL stage. Hurst enters his debut with valuable preparation and growing chemistry with Mayfield.
Neither rookie needs to carry the Buccaneers’ season on opening day. However, strong contributions from both could provide Tampa Bay with an important early boost.
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