Buccaneers Snap Counts Show A’Shawn Robinson’s Season Low, Even as He Graded Best in Dallas

A’Shawn Robinson played a season-low 19 of 60 defensive snaps Thursday night and still finished with the highest grade on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense, a 79.1, in the 24-16 win over the Cowboys, according to PFF. He had played at least 29 snaps in each of the first four games, according to Footballguys, and entered the week with an 89.5 season grade from PFF.

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The reason was Dallas’ game plan. The Cowboys threw 42 passes and ran 13 times, and the Bucs answered by keeping their pass rushers on the field.

Buccaneers offense: an even split and three backs

Tampa Bay ran on 36 of its 72 offensive snaps and threw on the other 36, according to PFF. Through four games, the Bucs had run on 83 of 253 snaps, about one in three.

Bucky Irving played 39 snaps (54%), his second-lowest share of the season, and still ran for 165 yards. Kenneth Gainwell’s 26 snaps fit his 23-to-32 range from the first four weeks. Sean Tucker, who had zero touches in the season’s first three games, played a season-high seven snaps and got the fourth-and-goal carry.

Payne Durham played 27 snaps as the second tight end next to Cade Otton (66), his second-highest total of the season. Emeka Egbuka (64) and Chris Godwin Jr. (63) led the receivers. Rookie Ted Hurst III rebounded to 33 snaps after dropping to 25 against Green Bay, and Tez Johnson played 28, seven fewer than in Week 4, on a night he caught the game’s longest pass.

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Buccaneers defense: pass rushers over run stuffers

Calijah Kancey (40) and Vita Vea (39) carried the interior, and each rushed the passer on 31 snaps, according to PFF. Robinson rushed on 11 and defended the run on eight.

Rueben Bain Jr., back after missing two games, led the edge group with 35 snaps. Yaya Diaby played 34, Al-Quadin Muhammad 25 and David Walker 19. Anthony Nelson fell to four snaps after playing 28 against Green Bay.

With Antoine Winfield Jr. out with a fractured rib, Ifeatu Melifonwu played 59 snaps at safety after four defensive snaps in the first four games combined. Tykee Smith also played 59 and had five of the team’s 15 pressures. Alex Anzalone played all 60 snaps and Josiah Trotter 59. Keionte Scott played 44 in the slot, matching his 73% share from Week 1, while Zyon McCollum (60) and Jacob Parrish (58) stayed on the field outside.

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Buccaneers Week 5 Snap Counts vs. Cowboys

Offense (72 snaps)

Defense (60 snaps)

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This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 8:45 AM.