Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka returns to practice. Will he play vs. Jets?
Published in Football
TAMPA, Fla. — Emeka Egbuka was back on the practice field Friday, offering hope that the NFL’s receiving touchdowns co-leader could be available for the home opener Sunday against the Jets as the Bucs battle through a rash of injuries.
Egbuka suffered a groin injury in Monday night’s 20-19 win at Houston.
He still managed to catch four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown, his third of the season. It tied him for the most TD catches in the league, along with the Bears’ Rome Odunze, the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Chargers’ Quentin Johnston.
“He’s questionable right now,” coach Todd Bowles said Friday. ”We’ll see Sunday morning. We’ve got to see how he’s feeling after (Friday)."
Asked if he liked what Egbuka did in practice, Bowles said, “In a limited role, yes.”
The Bucs already are without receivers Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. Godwin (ankle) and tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) practiced Friday, but both have been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Egbuka, the Bucs’ first-round pick from Ohio State, burst onto the scene with two touchdown receptions, including the game-winner, in his NFL debut two weeks ago at Atlanta.
If Egbuka is unable to go, the Bucs will have to lean more heavily on Mike Evans, Sterling Shepard and Ryan Miller, who caught a touchdown pass against Houston.
The versatility players like Miller bring to the team is “invaluable,” offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said.
”When those guys can play the X, the F and the Z — meaning outside, the slot, and then outside to the field — and then have his role in the kicking game and then be a really good blocker and understand exactly what we’re doing.
“He might not get a rep at that all week, and then he goes in there in the game and scores on it. That’s what you’re hoping for. He’s the ultimate team player to be able to do that, and that’s the kind of value you find in those guys when they can do multiple positions, and they’re very physical and they’re very smart.”
The Bucs have been ravaged by injuries, especially on the offensive line.
Wirfs underwent knee surgery in July. Guard Cody Mauch suffered a season-ending knee injury Monday and was placed on injured reserve. Tackle Luke Goedeke aggravated a foot injury 12 plays into the game. He also was placed on IR but is eligible to return in four weeks. Michael Jordan, who had been elevated the last two weeks to start at left guard, has not practiced this week.
Jordan has a knee injury, Bowles said Friday.
“He’s got a sore knee right now,” the coach said, “so we’ve got to get some tests run to see where he’s at.”
©2025 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Comments