After snapping a four-game losing streak, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are right back where they started following a brutal loss on Sunday in Santa Clara.
It was to be expected that the San Francisco 49ers would prove to be a more talented team, but the way the Bucs folded under the pressure of playing one of the top teams in the league was pretty demoralizing. Perhaps more furstrating is the Bucs continued reliance on a nonexistent run game, and the stubborness to try and get it going.
Fans have been rightfully angsty over the last few weeks while watching top weapons like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin get relegated to secondary options on offense. It comes as no surprise that games in which those two guys enter the fourth quarter with a combined 31 yards -- which was the case on Sunday -- are ones the Bucs lose.
Tampa Bay has tried and failed all season to jump start the run game, even looking at outside help to get it done. That's something the team could once again be tempted to do after the Los Angeles Rams waived running back Darrell Henderson on Tuesday.
Should Buccaneers take a chance on Darrell Henderson?
Henderson was waived by the Rams after it was revealed that Kyren Williams is expected to make his return in Week 12. It's the second time this year the Rams have moved on from a running back, as they traded Cam Akers to the Vikings back in October.
Rams waived RB Darrell Henderson. Kyren Williams returns Sunday vs. Arizona.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 21, 2023
Henderson has popped at moments over the course of his time in Los Angeles, but he hasn't done enough to emerge as a lead back in Sean McVay's offense. He could, however, add some interesting depth to the Buccaneers running back room.
It's not wild to think that the Bucs would make a move for Henderson now that he's on waivers. Earlier this month Tampa Bay put in a claim on Michael Carter after the New York Jets released him. Carter was ultimately awarded to the Arizona Cardinals, but it wasn't due to a lack of trying by the Bucs.
Could this time be the charm?
Rachaad White has begun to show the ability to be an Alvin Kamara-type threat for the Bucs, but he's mostly excelled in the passing game. Everything about the Bucs run game is broken, and there's an argument to be made that Henderson doesn't fix it. The issue seems to begin upfront with the offensive line, which begs the question of whether any running back can have success behind it.
Chase Edmonds is firmly the team's RB2, which would mean Henderson figures to be RB3 and bump Sean Tucker out of the rotation. Ke'Shawn Vaughn has been given some chances this season but he failed to do anything with those opportunities and has been a healthy scratch the last two games.
Henderson could be worth a shot, and the Bucs previous interest in Carter suggests they might take another stab at landing an additional player for depth.