Baker Mayfield, the star quarterback, spoke highly of his teammate Kenneth Gainwell during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practices. Mayfield expressed his admiration for Gainwell’s abilities, describing himself as ‘completely overwhelmed’ by the running back’s talent.
This offseason, the Buccaneers signed Gainwell to a one-year contract worth $14 million to bolster their backfield. Mayfield, after observing Gainwell’s performance in training camp, was impressed with his skills.
“He’s much more than a gadget guy,” Mayfield said. “I’ve been completely overwhelmed with his talent. I wasn’t aware that he started as a receiver in college. His running ability is impressive, as he sticks to his tracks and reads his blocks effectively.”
Mayfield praised Gainwell as a valuable addition to the team, calling him a “veteran presence” and highlighting his leadership by example.
“I thought he was a huge addition for us.” – Baker Mayfield
Gainwell previously spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he contributed to the team’s Super Bowl LIX victory. After leaving the Eagles, Gainwell joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his time with the Steelers, he participated in 17 games, starting two. He accumulated 537 rushing yards and five touchdowns as the RB2 behind Jaylen Warren.
In addition to his running, Gainwell proved to be a reliable receiving option, tying with tight end Pat Freiermuth for the second-most receiving yards on the Steelers with 486 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Buccaneers’ fans can expect to see him as a target for Mayfield in the upcoming season.
With the Buccaneers, Gainwell will serve as a backup to starting back Bucky Irving. Last season, Irving appeared in only 10 games due to injuries, which kept him sidelined for several weeks.
Though Gainwell did not play in the Buccaneers’ first NFL preseason game, head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Mayfield would participate in the upcoming preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Aug. 22. Gainwell is also expected to see some action during this game.