The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received encouraging news regarding their receiving corps ahead of Sunday’s season opener.
Emeka Egbuka Cleared for Cincinnati
Head coach Todd Bowles said Friday that rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka will be “full go” against the Cincinnati Bengals. Egbuka has dealt with a toe sprain since Tampa Bay’s joint practices with the New York Jets one month ago.
After missing time with the injury, Egbuka returned to full participation during this week’s practices. His availability provides a major boost for Tampa Bay entering the regular season.
Jalen McMillan, Sean Tucker Listed as Doubtful
While Egbuka received a positive update, two other offensive players remain uncertain for Sunday’s matchup.
Starting wide receiver Jalen McMillan is listed as doubtful while continuing his recovery from a knee injury suffered in early August. McMillan did participate in practice this week, but he remained limited throughout the sessions.
Running back Sean Tucker is also listed as doubtful after sustaining a hamstring injury during Tampa Bay’s final preseason game. Tucker enters the season as the team’s third running back.
Tampa Bay Still Has Receiver Depth
Despite the challenges facing the position, Tampa Bay believes it has enough depth to withstand absences.
Chris Godwin Jr. enters his 10th season after a strong training camp. Quarterback Baker Mayfield offered especially high praise for Godwin’s performance.
Mayfield described him as “as good a Chris Godwin as I’ve seen.” That confidence gives the Buccaneers another proven option if McMillan cannot play.
Tampa Bay also has second-year wide receiver Tez Johnson, who scored five touchdowns during his rookie season. Return specialist Kameron Johnson provides another option within the receiving group.
Ted Hurst Benefited From Extra Opportunities
Rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III has also made progress after receiving additional opportunities during camp.
Hurst benefited from increased reps while McMillan and Egbuka were sidelined for extended periods. Kameron Johnson also missed time during camp with a groin injury, creating additional opportunities for the rookie.
Bowles believes those repetitions have helped Hurst develop beyond his physical abilities. The rookie has also gained valuable experience learning Tampa Bay’s offensive system.
“I think you saw in the preseason, it’s invaluable to a rookie because he gets reps and he gets smarter,” Bowles on Hurst via ESPN’s Jenna Laine “It’s more or less the playbook. We know what his physical skills are, but it’s about getting everything down mentally, and he’s done a really good job at that.”
With Egbuka now expected to be fully available, Tampa Bay enters the opener with encouraging depth. The status of McMillan and Tucker, however, remains something to monitor before Sunday’s kickoff.
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