Buccaneers' Rueben Bain: On mend from AC joint sprain
Rotowire
Bain was diagnosed Wednesday with an AC joint sprain of his right shoulder, but the injury isn't believed to be serious, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Though it's unclear when Bain sustained the injury, head coach Todd Bowles said that the rookie first-round pick will be good to go for the start of the regular season, per Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site. The 21-year-old pass rusher is projected to start at weakside linebacker Week 1.
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Buccaneers' Rueben Bain: Draft slide ends in Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Buccaneers selected Bain in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 15th overall.
Bain (6-foot-2, 263 pounds) is likely an example of a player whose skill set grade is stronger than his athleticism grade. Bain was utterly dominant at Miami (FL), yet there is concern that his light frame and extremely short arms (30 and 7/8 inches) could make the jump in competition hard on his game. If Bain's arms don't hold him back, though, then he should be one of the better defensive ends in the league, and his addition addressees an area of need (edge rusher) for the Buccaneers. Bain was a dominant starter for each of his three years at Miami, including a 2025 junior season where he posted 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.
