Early stud (right) and early dud.
A few things are clear along the Buccaneers’ 2026 defensive front.
First, the Tampa Bay pass rush is downright sad. The Bucs were sackless again tonight in their thrilling win at Dallas. They’re on pace for a 20-sack season, which is downright horrendous.
Second, the run defense is stout, though shaky when Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are out of the game.
Also clear is that Rueben Bain is having problems.
The Miami Mauler rookie returned to the lineup tonight and looked rusty as ever, a little more burst in his legs but he was a complete non-factor. Maybe it was weakness after missing Weeks 3 & 4 with a groin issue, but he was awful in Weeks 1 and 2. Tonight, Bain simply had no juice.
However, second-year edge rusher David Walker is a handful. He hit Dak Prescott and got in his face a couple of times. He’s more active than Bain. He’s steadily passing the eye test in pool of soft Bucs edge rushers.
Joe is pleased by Walker, who dropped in coverage tonight and had a key pass breakup that led to a YaYa Diaby interception — another edge rusher who dropped in coverage on the play.
Wild night indeed.