Egbuka (hamstring) didn't practice Friday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
The Buccaneers haven't ruled Egbuka out for Monday's game at Detroit, but reports suggest he's unlikely to play -- an idea now backed up by consecutive missed practices. Chris Godwin (fibula) also hasn't practiced this week, while Mike Evans managed a limited session Thursday before sitting out Friday. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without Egbuka this week, even if the Bucs leave the door open as long as possible. A Monday game makes things tricky for fantasy managers, with so many moving parts in Tampa Bay's offense (again).
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Not practicing to begin Week 7
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Egbuka (hamstring) isn't taking part in practice Thursday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Though the Buccaneers will get receiver Mike Evans back on the practice field Thursday for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury in a Week 3 win over the Jets, Egbuka is one of three key skill-position players who will sit out the team's first Week 7 session. Along with Egbuka, wideout Chris Godwin (fibula) and running back Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) will be sidelined Thursday, and the statuses of all three players appear to be in doubt for Monday's contest in Detroit. Before having his day cut short by a hamstring injury in this past Sunday's 30-19 win over the 49ers, Egbuka had taken full advantage of Evans and Godwin missing time over the first five contests, compiling a 25-445-5 receiving line on 38 targets while adding nine rushing yards during that stretch.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Status for Week 7 uncertain
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Egbuka (hamstring) is expected to miss time due to the hamstring injury that forced him out of Sunday's 30-19 win over the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Egbuka secured two of four targets for 24 yards before being forced out Sunday, a contest in which the Buccaneers were missing Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula), as well as top running back Bucky Irving (shoulder). It would be a significant blow for the offense if Egbuka is unable to return for a road Monday Night Football matchup against the Lions in Week 7, as the rookie phenom has racked up a 25-445-5 line on 38 targets. With Egbuka, Evans and Godwin all uncertain to play, Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson and tight end Cade Otton could be positioned as Baker Mayfield's top receiving options versus Detroit.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Ruled out with hamstring issue
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Egbuka won't return to Sunday's contest agains the 49ers due to a hamstring injury, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Tampa Bay already was without the inactive Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) in Week 6, and now the team's rookie sensation is dealing with a health concern of his own that won't allow him to continue Sunday. The severity of Egbuka's injury isn't known, but the team is down to Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson as healthy options at the position.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Taking on No. 1 receiver duties
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Egbuka is set to serve as the Buccaneers' No. 1 receiver in Sunday's game against the 49ers due to Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) being ruled inactive for the contest, per Scott Smith of the team's official site.
The star rookie has already been one of the league's most productive receivers throughout his first five NFL games while playing each without either Evans or Godwin on the field. With both veteran wideouts sidelined Sunday, the Ohio State product will officially assume the role of No. 1 receiver for the first time in his nascent career, where he'll look to improve on the per-game averages of 5.0 receptions, 89.0 receiving yards and 7.6 targets he's generated thus far this season.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Career-high 163 yards in win
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Egbuka finished with seven receptions on as many targets for 163 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-35 win over Seattle.
Egbuka was unconscious in Sunday's thrilling victory, catching every ball thrown his way en route to a new career high in receiving yards (163). The standout rookie continued to step up in the absence of Mike Evans (hamstring), who missed his second game recovering from a Week 3 injury. Egbuka produced his second consecutive game with 100-plus yards and a trip to the end zone, proving that he can adequately fill his superstar teammate's shoes as Tampa Bay's No. 1 wideout. The Ohio State product is also proving that he can produce WR1 numbers for fantasy managers heading into a matchup against the 49ers next Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Leading receiver in Week 3 win
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Egbuka caught six of eight targets for 85 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Jets.
The rookie continued an impressive start to his NFL career, leading the Buccaneers in catches and yards while tying Mike Evans in targets. Evans left the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury, and Chris Godwin (ankle) may not be ready to make his season debut next week, which could leave Egbuka and his 14-181-3 line on 21 targets through three contests poised for massive volume in Week 4 against an Eagles secondary that just got torched for 11 catches and 112 yards by the Rams' Puka Nacua.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: All clear for Week 3
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Egbuka (hip/groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Egbuka's availability for Week 3 initially appeared to be in some doubt after the two lower-body injuries kept him from practicing Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to get back on the field as a limited participant Friday en route to taking a questionable designation into the weekend. The standout rookie is apparently feeling well enough to give it a go Sunday, though Adam Schefter of ESPN notes that Egbuka is a candidate to "have his snaps monitored and potentially limited based on how he feels during the game." Despite some possible workload restrictions, Egbuka still looks like a worthwhile option in fantasy lineups after he amassed an 8-96-3 receiving line on 13 targets through his first two NFL contests. However, Egbuka could eventually lose out on some looks in the passing game as soon as Week 4, as fellow wideout Chris Godwin (ankle) is targeting next Sunday's matchup with the Eagles for his 2025 debut.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Expected to be available Sunday
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Egbuka (hip/groin) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against the Jets, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Egbuka took a questionable tag into the weekend after practicing just once (as a limited participant) this week, but the rookie wideout is trending toward being available versus New York. In any case, confirmation of Egbuka's Week 3 status will arrive when Tampa Bay releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Questionable for Sunday
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Egbuka (hip/groin) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets after returning to practice Friday as a limited participant, Rock Riley of the Tampa Free Press reports.
Egbuka didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday due to hip and groin injuries and now could come down to a game-time decision ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff this Sunday. With Chris Godwin (ankle) still sidelined, the Buccaneers have Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson as options to fill in at WR (alongside Mike Evans and Sterling Shepard) if Egbuka ends up on the inactive list.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Back at practice
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Egbuka (hip/groin) was present for practice Friday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Egbuka was deemed a non-participant both Wednesday and Thursday, so his presence at Friday's session is a positive sign ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets. The Buccaneers' upcoming practice/injury report will reveal both the wideout's participation level as well as whether he carries a Week 3 injury designation into the weekend.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Expected back at practice
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Egbuka (hip/groin) was not spotted at the early open portion of practice open to the media but is expected to participate Thursday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Egbuka missed practice Wednesday due to hip and groin injuries, but he's expected to log at least limited reps Thursday, which would bode well for his chances of gaining clearance in time for Sunday's contest against the Jets. If Egbuka is able to suit up versus New York, he'll again be positioned as one of the Buccaneers' clear top options in the receiving game alongside Mike Evans. Chris Godwin (ankle) is practicing but is not expected to make his return Week 3.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Egbuka didn't practice Wednesday due to hip and groin injuries.
The rookie first-round pick has kicked off his pro career with a bang, combining for three touchdown catches in his first two games. Overall, he has eight receptions (on 13 targets) for 96 yards and the aforementioned scores. There's no telling if the new health concerns are threatening his availability for Sunday's contest against the Jets, but his activity level Thursday and Friday likely will provide insight in that regard.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Another TD in MNF win
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Egbuka brought in four of seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 20-19 win over the Texans on Monday night.
The rookie first-round pick had a relatively quiet latter portion of the game, but not before making his mark with what was already his third trip to the end zone through two NFL games. Egbuka scored on a nifty 15-yard catch and run in the second quarter, a play that accounted for more than half of his receiving yardage on the night. The Texans, like the Falcons in Week 1, generally did a good job keeping plays in front of them, but Egbuka could benefit from the heavy attention Sauce Gardner is likely to bestow on Mike Evans in a Week 3 home matchup against the Jets on Sunday afternoon.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Makes most of one catch
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Egbuka recorded one catch on two targets for five yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 17-14 preseason win over the Steelers.
Egbuka was on the field for the first three drives for Tampa Bay and made his impact on the final possession. His lone catch was an impressive grab in the corner of the end zone that he made around Brandin Echols in coverage. Egbuka has gotten strong reviews in training camp and has made an impact in both preseason contests, leaving him in a strong position to make an early impact in his rookie season -- particularly if Chris Godwin (PUP-ankle) is sidelined to open the campaign.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Tampa adds firepower with 19th pick
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The Buccaneers selected Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 19th overall.
Egbuka (6-foot-1, 202 pounds) might be somewhat redundant to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the short term, but the former Ohio State star can line up either in the slot or the boundary, so at the very least Egbuka can provide a plug-and-play swing backup utility to Tampa Bay while projecting as a long-term replacement for whichever of Evans or Godwin requires replacing first. Fellow wideout and 2024 third-round pick Jalen McMillan could very well be the starter opposite Egbuka at that future point, but in the meantime Egbuka should probably be the favorite to claim the WR3 role at McMillan's expense. Egbuka set the Ohio State career reception record with 205, which he turned into 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in 49 career games. While Egbuka likely lacks the speed to dictate a vertical presence as a receiver, he likely projects as a high-volume target on underneath and slot routes.
